Central wins MAC girls golf title

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By Andrew Petersen
Quad-City Times | Monday, May 5, 2008 9:48 PM CDT | () comments

Bettendorf's Melissa Jensen hits out of the sand during Monday's Mississippi Athletic Conference golf meet. Bettendorf finished second to Davenport Central. Buy this Photo

One thing has escaped Davenport Central girls golf coach John Gill in his 15 years with the team.

It might only be 14 years — he doesn’t remember — but the absence of a conference title stuck with him.

On Monday, the Blue Devils delivered their coach a pleasing memory, winning the Mississippi Athletic Conference Championship by eight strokes at Emeis Golf Course.

Central compiled a team total 350, besting Bettendorf (358) and Davenport Assumption (370)

“What I have are six girls that work as hard as any group I’ve ever had,” Gill said. “That’s just spectacular.

“There’s tough competition out here, and because of them, that forced these girls to play that much better.”

Senior Megan Chitty led all players with a 4-over 78. Meagan Bewley finished at 85, followed by Brenna Haskins (88) and Courtney Curtis (99).

Chitty hit 14 greens in regulation, totaled 31 putts and was just 1 over on the back nine after a so-so front.

“I’m really happy with it,” she said. “My drives were always going left (before Monday), so I thought I’d try a little adjustment, and they were flying. I have terrible aim, but I just let it go.”

Chitty finished sixth in last year’s MAC Championship at Clinton Country Club.

Also improved from a year ago was Bettendorf sophomore Leah Burich. Her 81 tied Assumption’s Colleen Carroll for second, but Burich wants more.

“It was nothing special,” she said. “I hit my driver well, and I was putting well. I just started bogeying.”

The Bulldogs looked like they might threaten Central through nine holes, with Burich 2 over at the turn. Bettendorf has a few more highlights, including a trio of birdies from Chrissie McGaffigan, but there was no catching the Devils.

Davenport West turned in four double-digit scores to place fourth at 381, and defending champ Muscatine was fifth at 385.

Andrew Petersen can be reached at (563) 383-2288 or apetersen@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qcvarsity.com.