FORT MADISON — Lela-Ann Fort had never played a round of golf in her life.

In fact, the Southeastern Community College freshman volleyball player had never picked up a golf club until this spring.

With the Blackhawks short on numbers for the women's team this spring, sophomore Addie Pry talked Fort into giving golf a try.

On Tuesday, Fort played the first round of golf in her life, shooting a 125 at the Iowa Wesleyan University Spring Tiger Classic at Sheaffer Memorial Golf Course.

While it is a far cry from volleyball, Fort had fun despite the cold, windy conditions.

“It was fun. The girls I was with helped me a lot. I really appreciate that. It was fun overall," said Fort, a graduate of WACO High School. “It makes me be patient. You have to take it easy. It’s like a waiting game kind of thing.”

“I try to help her out as much as I can, teach her my tips and tricks," said Pry, a sophomore from New London. “I knew her from playing volleyball against her in high school. We were just acquaintances. I saw her at a basketball game and I said, ‘Hey why don’t you come out for golf because I am the only girl on the team.’ I told her it would be fun and it is fun.”

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Pry tied for 10th in the women's division, carding a 91. For Pry, just getting back on the course again and having a teammate there with her was worth the effort.

“I had some good drives today, but my putting was not very good," Pry said. “It was our first round of the year and we had our first outdoor practice (Monday). I haven’t played much this year.”

Despite the adverse conditions, Fort said it was an overall enjoyable experience for her first round of golf.

Fort is majoring in sociology and plans to be an advocate. She said golf helps fill her schedule and keep her busy.

“Juggling two sports is fun," Fort said. "I like having a lot of things to do. I don’t like just sitting around doing nothing. I like to stay busy.”

Waldorf won the women's division with a 344 total. Iowa Wesleyan was second, four strokes behind.

Knox College won the men's division with a 298 total. Iowa Wesleyan finished ninth with a 329.

Iowa Wesleyan junior Karli Kirchner finished sixth with an 89, while teammate Aubrey Duncan as runner-up medalist with an 81, losing on a card back to Jordan Aholt of Waldorf.

Also for Iowa Wesleyan, Claire Hanson was fifth with n 87 and Michal Wohlleber tied for 10th with a 91..

“It was all right. It was a little cold. I had to keep my hands warm.I was hitting my wedges really well. I got into some trouble off the tee, but I managed to get out and hit some greens," said Duncan, a graduate of Columbus Community High School and Des Moines Area Community College. “Golf is all about adjusting and adjusting in any kind of conditions you play in. That’s what I had to do. It’s all about being able to adjust. If you can do that, you’re in good shape.”

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Duncan, who is majoring in business management with an emphasis on human resources and marketing, got into golf in a roundabout way.

“I was a competitive gymnast. I had some injuries and I had to retire. I picked golf and stuck with it. I played five sports in high school. I like golf," Duncan said.

Kirchner, a junior from Donnellson, didn't start playing golf competitively until her junior year at Central Lee High School. Her strong background in the sport has helped her excel at a fast rate.

“I golfed my junior and senior years in high school. My parents always had me playing golf, so I had been playing it since I was a little kid. I had some friends join the team so I just decided to go ahead and give it a shot and play for the school.Ever since then I’ve absolutely loved playing it. It’s been a real joy. It’s been a lot of fun," said Kirchner, a psychology major. “It’s definitely a bit different than it was as the high school level. There’s more competition. These girls are very talented. You have to go into it knowing there is some competition and the courses are a lot more challenging, as well. You get a lot of good experience and you get to better your skills."

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Trace White made quite a splash — literally — on his final hole of the day. White, a sophomore from Mount Pleasant, used a 56-degree wedge to hole out from 89 yards on the par-4 17th hole for eagle. He finished tied for 13th with a 77.

“I pulled out my 56-degree and hit a little knock down. It landed a little left of the hole, rolled to the right and sank right in. I was excited about that," White said. “Hopefully that’s a good start to a good rest of the season for us, for the team and me individually.”

White is back in his hometown after golfing last year at Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, Illinois. He is hoping to make the most of his golf career as he works on his degree in physical education.

“I wanted to come back closer to home so I could stay at home and get my degree," White said. "I got with Kurt and he wanted me. It’s the best of both worlds here at Iowa Wesleyan. I love being back here in my home town.”

Also for the Tigers, Brevin Wilson tied for 26th with an 80, Kenny Tucker tied for 49th with an 85, Bailey Shelledy tied for 56th with an 87, Nathan Cronkhite tied for 69th with a 94 and Colton Sherwood was 76th with a 105.

Jayden Rios led SCC, tying for 17th with a 78. Tate Nelson tied for 34th with an 82 and Dylan Burns tied for 49th with an 85.

Burlington High School and SCC graduate Jon Jarvis, a junior at William Penn, tied for 34th with an 82. He helped the Statesmen finish second int the team race with a 305 total.

“It’s fun being back around the area where I grew up. I wish I would have played a little better today, but that’s fine. I had a good time. I saw my old coach and I really enjoyed that," Jarvis said. “College golf, the room for error is smaller. Scores in the 70s would probably get you a medal in high school. Not on college. You have to shoot closer to par or even under par.”

Matt Levins is a sports reporter for the USA TODAY Network in Burlington, Iowa, who has covered local sports for 31 years. Reach him at mlevins@thehawkeye.com.