The season came to an end on Tuesday for the Ankeny boys’ golf team.
The Hawks competed in a Class 4A district meet at Whispering Creek Golf Club in Sioux City and just missed qualifying for the state meet. They placed fifth in the 14-team field with a 335 total, finishing three strokes out of the third and final qualifying spot.
“I am really proud of how the boys hung in there today on a really tough course,” said Ankeny coach Mike Weddingfeld. “We struggled putting on the greens and everyone had two or more three-putts so we definitely could have saved some strokes there, but overall I feel like we shot close to our individual averages on a really tough course.”
Third-ranked Waukee and Waukee Northwest each shot a 316, but the three-time defending state champion Warriors won the team title based on a better fifth score. Valley placed third with a 332 and also qualified for state, edging Sioux City East by one stroke.
Brock Seiser of Waukee, the defending state runner-up, earned medalist honors with a 75. Caden McEnroe of Waukee Northwest was the runner-up with a 77.
Drew Hensen led Ankeny with a 79. He missed qualifying for state as an individual by one stroke.
“Drew started out 7-over-par on the first seven holes which is very uncharacteristic of him,” Weddingfeld said. “I am not sure if it was nerves or just trying too hard but he was struggling from the beginning, but he hung in there and shot even par on the next 11 holes. That shows his golf maturity for only a sophomore–some kids would have given up but he decided he needed to go low on the back nine and shot even par. Because he missed state by one stroke I really feel bad for him, but I am also really proud of how he hung in there and stayed positive when he was struggling a bit.”
Jacob Adams shot an 83 for the Hawks. Jake O’Brien fired an 85, Avin Legg had an 88, Sam Parkinson carded an 89, and Connor O’Brien had a 92.
“Jacob shot well for us today and so did Jake, shooting very close to their averages on an unfamiliar and really difficult course,” Weddingfeld said. “Sam also shot really well on the front nine and really played well in his last meet for AHS except for a couple holes I know he wishes he could play over again. Avin and Connor also played hard and except for a few hiccups here and there shot OK. Like I said, this is a great group of guys that don’t have much experience playing varsity golf that went out and did their best today and unfortunately it wasn’t quite good enough but it was a great learning experience for all.
“Only graduating one senior from the top six will just make us better next year,” he added.