While things looked sunny at Winfield for the IMS girls golf team, the feeling was anything but bright for the Mid-Prairie girls at Tipton Country Club Monday.

With high expectations heading into the 1999 Eastern Iowa Hawkeye Conference Championships, M-P walked away with a sixth-place finish and only one all-conference selection.

“It was just a very frustrating day,” coach Deb Kahler said. “It seems like we are regressing instead of progressing.”

Junior Jill Kelley managed two solid rounds of 42 and 38 for a 90, good for fifth place in the medalist race. Her fifth-place finish also earned her all-conference honors.

“Jill did have a solid day, especially on the back nine,” Kahler said.

For the rest of the Golden Hawks, it turned out to a rough day Monday. Number one player B.J. Duwa ran into trouble on the front nine, scoring a 64 (enroute to a 120 total), while Hilary Shalla finished with a 119 and Bobbie Billups, despite being under the weather, came in with a 125.

“Right now, it is all up to the girls on how much we get ready for district play Monday,” Kahler said. “It depends on how much work they want to put into it.

“I think we are going to have play the best we have played all year to qualify for regional play,” she added. “We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”

A surprising crew from Durant earned the team title, besting the host Tigerettes by six shots (404-410) for the title. West Liberty was just one shot behind Tipton in third with a 411, led by junior Amber DeRiemacker, the meet medalist with an 84.

1999 Eastern Iowa Hawkeye Conference Girls Golf Championships

Team standings

1. Durant 404, 2. Tipton 410, 3. West Liberty 411, 4. Solon 417, 5. Iowa City Regina 448, 6. M-P 464, 7. Clear Creek-Amana 508, 8. West Branch 509, 9. Wilton 598

M-P - Kelley 48-42 (90), Shalla 54-65 (119), Duwa 64-56 (120), Billups 59-66 (125). NC: Angie Mullet 68-71 (139), Andrea Thrapp 62-67 (129).