CEDAR FALLS - The rear window of a burgundy Oldsmobile parked in the front row at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course Wednesday boldly proclaimed "Valley Champs!"

It belongs to a member of the Waterloo West girls' golf team, and after Wednesday's final leg of the four-round Metro Meet, she will have to make room for the title "Metro Champs."

Senior Sam Sturch came through with a sparkling round of 39 (the day's best), Sarah Boss completed a wire-to-wire run as the individual leader, and the Wahawks ended an eight-year reign of metro dominance by Cedar Falls on another wild, windy afternoon on the local links.

The Tigers didn't go down without a fight. Abby Bermel took a run at Boss and had a chance to overtake the West sophomore for individual honors until a stray tee shot on the final hole settled under a pine tree in the deep rough.

"She played really good even in the wind, and it wasn't one of my best days, that's for sure," said Boss, who two-putted on the final hole and won the overall title by two strokes.

That, coupled with Sturch's round and West's usual consistency, was enough to keep the Wahawks on top. West shot 170 Wednesday and finished at 698 overall, the second-lowest total in Metro Meet history.

"We've come a long way in four years," said Wahawk coach Larry Daniels. "We're 45-4 right now, and two of our meets were one-stroke losses. Actually, two of them were to C.F.

"We've been real consistent. We surprised a lot of people when we were (Mississippi Valley) Supermeet champions. The MVC is a strong golfing league. We won our division, and now we've won the metro.

"We're real pleased about that."

Daniels, whose team is currently ranked eight in the state, said his Wahawks' offseason work has paid dividends. Many of his players spent eight weeks participating in a winter hitting clinic.

"It's the offseason work and their dedication to get together in the summer," he noted. "We play once a week together and have hamburgers and go play. We do weekends. We do short-game practices on Saturdays.

"They're willing to spend that time. They're a real close-knit group. Since Sarah came along two years ago, they've realized that we could be a good team. And we've become a good team."

Cedar Falls handed over its crown with class, but the Tigers don't plan to go away. They are playing their best golf as Monday's regional tournament in Cedar Rapids approaches.

"I think they're playing great," said Cedar Falls coach Rich Strike. "They're right where they need to be right now, and things are getting better. Every time we come out, our veteran players are getting better.

"I'm excited about what's going to happen next week. There's no clear-cut team that's above everybody else, so it should be a fun meet."

The Wahawks are looking forward to Monday, as well. They will be challenged by Linn-Mar and Dubuque Hempstead, in addition to the Tigers. The top two teams from the regional meet qualify for state and the top five individuals who are not members of those teams.

"I think the odds are pretty good," said Boss.

Contact Doug Newhoff at (319) 291-1467 or doug.newhoff@wcfcourier.com

FINAL TOURNAMENT TEAM STANDINGS - 1. Waterloo West 698; 2. Cedar Falls 715; 3. Waterloo Columbus 815; 4. Waterloo East 842.

TOP INDIVIDUALS (total tournament stroke totals) - 1. Sarah Boss (WW) 163; 2. Abby Bermel (CF) 165; 3. Allison Morris (CF) 176; T4. Sam Sturch (WW) 177; T4. Jordan Galles (CF) 177; 6. Mackenzie Treloar (WW) 182; 7. Corey Kline (WW) 183; 8. Amy Devine (Col.) 187; 9. Katie Clausman (WW) 191; 10. Allison Platt (WW) 194.

WEDNESDAY'S TEAM STANDINGS - 1. Waterloo West 170; 2. Cedar Falls 182; 3. Waterloo Columbus 200; 4. Waterloo East 210.

CEDAR FALLS (Final round scores) - Jordan Galles 40 (runner-up), Abby Bermel 42, Ashley Hermansen 49, Allison Morris 51.

WATERLOO WEST - Sam Sturch 39 (medalist), Sarah Boss 43, Katie Clausman 44, Corey Kline 44.

WATERLOO EAST - Danielle Myers 49, Felicia Scott 51, Ashley Bass 54, Alexis Spitzner 56.

WATERLOO COLUMBUS - Amy Devine 43, Margaret Hart 50, Emily Klein 53, Kelsie Graham 54.