Criswell earns Div. II medal for Storm

OGALLALA – Led by junior Jaden Criswell, who recovered from a difficult first nine, the Creek Valley Lady Storm golf team put its struggles from Gering of a week ago into a distant memory at West Wind Golf Couse at the Ogallala Invite on Monday.

In the team competition, Dundy County/Stratton won the top prize with a 403 total with Mitchell (440) coming in second and Chadron (461) third. The Storm do not have the requisite four players to compete as a team.

Criswell, who started on the 10th tee in the shotgun start, struggled to a back-nine 62. She turned her fortunes around, however, with her best nine-hole score of the season on her inward half. Criswell’s front-nine score of 45 propelled her into the medals with an 18-hole total of 107 and a 10th-place finish in Division II.

“We always talk about how tough this course can be, especially when you get into the rough,” Criswell said. “I think I kind of psyched myself out on the first nine, but I was able to put that behind me.”

Maddy Johnson had a more consistent round with equal nines of 57 for a 114 total. Though well off her best, she managed to shave eight strokes off her score from a year ago on this golf course.

“It wasn’t my best day but when it was over I didn’t think it was as bad as I thought it was,” Johnson said. “I had some really good putts and that helped with my score.”

While junior Jo Hummermeier was a little off her best, she fired nearly equal nines of 72-73 for a 145 total.

“Jo is still learning the game and she’s starting to have fun with it and that’s a really good sign,” said Storm head coach Cyd Hanson. “We’re all striving to improve our consistency and we did pretty well with that today.”

The Storm will next take its game to the Courthouse & Jail Rock Golf Course in Bridgeport on Thursday. The shotgun start is set for 9 a.m.