DARLINGTON — The Darlington Redbirds girls’ golf team kicked off the 2018 season by keeping the team title from their season-opening triangular at home. 

The Lady Redbirds had all five varsity golfers finished within eight strokes of one another to finish first by a comfortable 30 strokes after carding a team score of 208 in their nine-hole opener. 

Mount Horeb was a distant second at 238 led by individual medalist Ellie Lombardo with her round of 49, while two-time defending SWAL-SWC champions Southwestern/Cuba City took third at 243.

Junior Maggie Nordquist finished a stroke off medalist pace as she carded a 50 to lead the Redbirds. Senior Kennedy Wagner followed with a 51, while juniors Marissa Gould and Allison Thompson scored a 52 and a 55, respectively, to complete the team scoring for the hosts.

“Winning the first meet of the season is a huge confidence booster for the team. They put a lot of time in this summer, and it shows with today’s results,” Darlington coach Molly Rice said. “I was very pleased with today’s results all being in the 50s because it means they stayed strong through all nine holes. I love the consistency that was demonstrated.”

Senior Chloe Muhlstein shot a 58 for the Darlington varsity squad, while fellow seniors Holly Ray and Hannah McCarthy each shot a 61 to pace the Lady Redbirds’ JV team. 

 “I am hoping the team continues to build off of today and keep competing to get better every day,” Rice said.

Darlington hosts the 18-hole Ringen Girls’ Golf Invitational at the Darlington Country Club on Friday at 9 a.m. The Lady Redbirds head to the Galena Public Golf Course on Aug. 21 to participate in the Southwestern/Cuba City Meet at 9 a.m., and then will participate in the Prairie du Chien Invitational at the Prairie du Chien Country Club on Aug. 23, also at 9 a.m.