Cyclone girls improve in loss to defending champs

 HARLAN -- It didn’t result in a win, but the Harlan Community girls golf team certainly rose to the challenge late Monday afternoon in a matchup with the defending Class 3-A state champions.
 Hosting an Atlantic squad that returns five of its top six players from last year’s title winner, the Cyclones braved windy conditions and fast greens to cut 10 strokes off their previous-best home score of the year at Harlan Golf and Country Club.
 In the end, Harlan’s team tally of 217 trailed the Trojans’ 195 by 22 strokes, but HCHS coach Willie Baughman felt good about the round overall.
 Senior Maggie Langenfeld shot a runner-up medalist round of 48 despite an unfortunate penalty and a ‘9’ on the final hole while freshman Haley Manz carded a career-best 54 on a tough night to play.
 Atlantic senior Brooke Newell, last year’s individual state runner-up, shot a steady medalist round of 41 to lead the Trojans, who improved their record to 6-0.
 The Cyclones dropped to 3-2.