(Sentinel photo by Roy Tucker) Hinton's Kaitlin Rodgers sends a shot along during her medalist round of 43 at the War Eagle Conference meet Monday in Alton. Rodgers helped lead Hinton to its third consecutive WEC tournament title. [Click to enlarge]

After clinching the War Eagle Conference dual season title, the Blackhawks won the WEC tournament for the third consecutive year at Alton's golf course. The Blackhawks have won the WEC every year since 2001 except for 2005 when the Gehlen Jays won the crown.

Hinton's girls' golf team had a team score of 188, edging out second-place finisher South O'Brien who finished with a 210. The Gehlen Jays earned fifth-place after Marcus-Meridan-Cleghorn and West Sioux finished tied for third with team scores of 229. The Jays finished four strokes back with 233.

"They did great today," said Hinton's Julie Clausen. "I was really proud of them - that is a hard course up there. I was pleasantly surprised. I really didn't know what to expect from there today."

(Sentinel photo by Roy Tucker) A-W's Kaylee Hughes sinks a putt in her round of 56 Monday afternoon. [Click to enlarge]

Akron-Westfield finished eight overall with a score of 254; Remsen-St. Mary's came in ninth with a final score of 312.

Hinton's Kaitlin Rodgers earned medalist honors with her impressive round of 43. Rodgers beat out Carrie Egdorf of South O'Brien for top honors. Egdorf finished with a 45.

The Blackhawks had two other golfers in the top five as Erin Hedlund finished one stroke back of Egdorf to shoot a 46 on the afternoon. Britni Freed earned fifth-place honors as she shot a 47, helping Hinton to the big win.

(Sentinel photo by Roy Tucker) RSM's Jessica Heeren keeps her eye on the ball as she shoots towards the green in her round of 66. [Click to enlarge]

"Winning the War Eagle (Conference) was one of their goals this year," said Clausen. "We're glad we accomplished our goal and we want to keep this going on Monday at Boyer Valley."

Stephanie Smith carded a 52 to finish eighth and Sam Thiele recorded a round of 59 on her scorecard. Amanda Moody finished out the scoring for Hinton with a 63.

A-W's Kaylee Hughes had the biggest day for the Westerners as she recorded a round of 56. Charlene Martin finished a few strokes behind Hughes, ending her round of nine holes with a 62.

(Sentinel photo by Roy Tucker) Gehlen's Emily Tentinger chips her ball towards the green at the WEC meet in Alton Monday. [Click to enlarge]

Kaitlan Klemme was one shot behind Jessica Heeren of RSM with a 67. Heeren finished with a 66. A-W's Rachel Black and Krystal Toben tied with 69's on the afternoon. Marissa Harvey was close behind with a 70.

Due to inclement weather earlier this spring, the Westerners were forced to make up duals with Unity Christian and RSM. A-W went 1-1 on the day as they cruised past the Hawks but fell to the Knights of Unity Christian who finished with a 254.

The fifth-place Jays were led by the duo of Emily Tentinger and Katie Freking who recorded 55's on their scorecard to help Gehlen to a top five finish.

"The girls had a lot of fun," said Gehlen's Kathy Stelzer. "There weren't a lot of 40's for scores - it was a little more challenging today than normal."

Cayla Price had the third top score for the Jays when she finished with a 61. Melissa Kellen, making her varsity debut, and Anna Geier tied with 62's after the nine hole tournament. Nicole Schmitz rounded out her day with a 65.

The Jays made up duals with MMC and West Sioux and finished 0-2 on the afternoon. Freking earned runner-up honors in the dual with West Sioux.

The Hawks struggled in the team standings but saw great improvement from Kristin Loutsch who had RSM's best finish of the day with her 64. Heeren's 66 and Jessica Loutsch's 82 weren't enough to keep the Hawks from falling to A-W in dual action and jumping the Westerners in the team standings of the WEC tournament. Emily Schilmoeller was the final counter for St. Mary's as she finished with a 100.

"The course seemed to play a little tough for the girls today," said RSM's Sue Klein. "Some of the girls had water trouble and that added to penalty strokes."

The Hawks will travel to Rock Rapids on Monday for districts. Hinton, A-W and Gehlen will all travel to participate in districts in Dunlap, hosted by Boyer Valley.