A year ago, the Ankeny Centennial girls’ golf team struggled to a 13th-place finish at the Linn-Mar Invitational.
The Jaguars returned to Hunters Ridge Golf Course on Tuesday and shot a much better score.
Centennial placed sixth in the 14-team field, shooting a 379.
“It was a big improvement from a year ago,” said Centennial coach John Petersen. “Last year we shot a 449. I am extremely pleased that our girls are finding their hard work is paying off!”
Payton Drefke carded a 14-over-par 86 to lead the Jaguars. She had three birdies on the day and placed 12th as an individual.
Kaitlyn Ault and Vivian Wilson each shot a 96. Olivia Joensen fired a 101, Grace Miller had a 106, and Samantha Lazear finished with a 114.
Addie Berg of Cedar Rapids Prairie carded a 76 to earn medalist honors. Shannyn Vogler was the runner-up with a 77.
Second-ranked Pleasant Valley shot a 331 to win the tournament. No. 1 Valley was the runner-up with a 345.
“The field was loaded with most of the top teams in the state,” Petersen said.
The Jaguars will compete in the Linda Bloom Invitational on Thursday at Elmwood Country Club in Marshalltown.