Greene County junior Rachael Danielson played in her second straight Class 4A State Golf Tournament May 23-24. Danielson is the first female in 55 years of girls’ high school golf in Jefferson to play in two State tournaments. The Iowa High School Golf Coaches Association honored her with a spot on the Class 4A first team All-State list.
Danielson finished sixth following a card back tie-breaker with another player who equaled her 182 score at the Elmwood Country Club in Marshalltown. No one else in the history of the Jefferson program has played twice or finished that high.
“It’s pretty cool, honestly!” exclaimed Danielson to Raccoon Valley Radio. “My freshman year I really never realized I would do this well. I never thought about it, but now that it’s here, it’s pretty good to be the best female golfer that Greene County’s ever seen! All my hard work’s starting to pay off.”
Sarah Nacos of Washington became a three-time individual state champion by blowing away the field with a 154 total. Second place was 177.
Danielson’s Tuesday round saw her shoot 46-42, but on Wednesday she went 45-49. One of the highlights of her final round was a birdie (three) on the par four 15th hole.
She chipped the shot from so far out she couldn’t even see the pin. “That was quite a way to cap off my junior year!” exclaimed Danielson. ~The Scranton Journal
