The Ankeny Centennial softball team will have to wait a little longer for Payton Drefke to make her season debut.
Drefke, a starting outfielder for the Jaguars, earned her second consecutive trip to the girls’ Class 4A state golf meet on Wednesday. The junior shot an 8-over-par 81 to place third in a regional meet at Veenker Golf Course in Ames.
“I’m very excited to be going back to state to play at Otter Creek, but I wish my whole team was coming as well,” said Drefke.
Centennial placed fourth in the 10-team field with a 397, but only the top two teams qualified. The Jaguars placed 10th at last year’s state meet.
“It’s always sad when the team does not get to move on,” said Centennial coach John Petersen. “However, our senior group has had a fantastic career. We were in a very good (regional). Southeast Polk and Ames are two of the best teams in central Iowa.”
The third-ranked Rams shot a 344 to capture the regional crown. No. 10 Ames placed second with a 367 and also advanced to state, which will be held on May 25-26 at Otter Creek.
“We knew it was going to be tough to get back to state,” Petersen said. “We had to shoot our best score of the year on a very difficult golf course. Our winning score last year at Veenker (377) would have only placed us third this year.”
Rylin Davidson of Southeast Polk carded a 3-over 76 to earn medalist honors. Emerson Motl of Ames was the runner-up with an 80.
After shooting a 42 on the front nine, Drefke closed out her round with a 3-over 39 on the back nine.
“Overall, I thought I played well today and stayed out of trouble, which is not easy to do at Veenker,” Drefke said. “I kept telling myself to focus on the next shot even when the one before might not have gone my way.”
Drefke’s lone birdie of the day came on the par-5, No. 1 hole. She later made four straight pars on Nos. 11-14.
“I was very pleased with Payton’s round today,” Petersen said. “She shot a very solid 81 and did not make any putts outside of four feet. So we know her score could’ve even been lower! We are really excited to see how well she can do next week at state!”
Vivian Wilson carded a 99 for the Jaguars. Kate Geiselhart shot a 107, Olivia Joensen had a 110, Brooke Ridout fired a 111, and Adelynne Peterson added a 114.
Drefke tied for 15th place at last year’s state meet, where she carded rounds of 82 and 79 for a 161 total at Otter Creek.
“I really want to improve my short game execution next week and keep the same mentality while playing,” Drefke said. “While doing these things, top 10 at state would be my overall goal.”
