Matt Levins - The Hawk Eye
ANKENY — While the golf season is in the rear-view mirror for most high school student-athletes, the golf season never ends for Notre Dame High School sophomore Allee Rose Booten.
Booten was back at it this past weekend, playing in the Albaugh Junior Invitational at Talons Golf.
After finishing third in the invitation-only event last season, Booten had all the motivation she needed this year.
Booten carded rounds of 78 and 75 for a two-day total of 9-over-par 153 to win the Girls 14-15 division by 14 strokes over Libby Knutzon of Altoona.
“It was kind of weird because the first day was beautiful weather and I shot a 78,” Booten said. “The second day it was hotter and it rained off and on the whole day. I was on a roll before there was a rain delay. I had two birdies in a row. It was pretty fun seeing all my hard work pay off.”
For the two days, Booten had six birdies and 20 pars.
Booten was a little worried about her driver heading into the event. She went out to the range was was able to find the problem and fix it.
“It was very frustrating. I decided to go out and diagnose it myself,” said Booten, who credits her swing coach, Jeff Schmidt of Iowa City, with helping her stay consistent. “I had a very frustrating range session. I told myself to calm down and figure it out myself, which I did.”
Booten hit every fairway in regulation on the first day, then hit 10 of 13 on the second day.
Booten is scheduled to play in one final even this season, the Iowa PGA Junior Tour Fall Classic Sept. 26-27 at Geneva Golf and Country Club in Muscatine.
She is looking forward to the challenging course and challenging herself.
“When I get out there on the course, I really feel like I’m in my element,” Booten said.