Monday’s season-opening Jesse Peck Invitational proved to be a good starting point for both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys’ golf teams.
The Hawks placed second with a 314 total at Briarwood Golf Club, finishing seven strokes behind Dallas Center-Grimes. This marked the first time that coach Mike Weddingfeld’s team has played in Centennial’s home invite, which is named after the ex-Hawk and Jaguar standout who was coached by Weddingfeld.
“It was not the start we were hoping for as far as a team score, but it was a tough day weather-wise,” Weddingfeld said. “The wind was blowing, and it rained off and on the entire time we played. As I told the guys, ‘We aren’t going to win a state championship during the first tournament of the season, so second place is a good start.'”
Centennial, meanwhile, took fifth in the eight-team field despite finishing just three strokes behind the Hawks. Valley was third with a 316, and the Jaguars matched Indianola with a 317 total but lost the tiebreaker for fourth place.
Centennial made its debut under first-year coach Andrew Reedy.
“It was a tough day with the rain off and on,” Reedy said. “The wind was blowing considerably, and some of my guys handled that better than others. Overall, we had some solid showings. It was a good starting point for the season and opportunities to learn from some mistakes.”
Ankeny’s Drew Hensen shot a 1-over-par 73 to earn medalist honors. He edged runner-up Noah Moberg of Dallas Center-Grimes by one stroke.
“I was happy to start the year with a win,” said Hensen. “Having unpredictable weather is part of the fall season. We are used to having to deal with different conditions.”
Hensen birdied two of the first five holes and later had an eagle on the par-5, No. 12 hole. He birdied No. 14 to get to 2-under-par, but then bogeyed three of the last four holes.
“Drew played a great round and won, and he even had some penalties and a few holes he would like back,” Weddingfeld said. “But he kept battling and turned in a nice round. I am super proud of how he kept his head and played through to the end.”
Centennial was led by Charlie Morrissey. He carded a 77 to place ninth in his varsity debut.
“Charlie has been our most consistent guy so far with a bit of a tough first day of tryouts, but then three rounds in the mid-70s including a 77 (Monday) in some tough conditions,” Reedy said. “I’m really proud of how he has gone about his business.”
Ankeny got a 10th-place finish from Kyler Crimmins, who fired a 79. He shot a 37 on the back nine in his varsity debut.
“I was really happy with Kyler and how he played,” Weddingfeld said. “Briarwood is his home course so I think he felt a little more at ease than the rest of the team, and his score definitely helped us.”
Zach Hoffman placed 13th for the Jaguars with a 79. Teammate McCoy Miller was 14th with an 80.
“Zach played pretty solid for most of the day and then made a loose swing late in his round that led to a double bogey. But he hung in there and made a birdie and two pars on his last three holes, which was good to see,” Reedy said. “McCoy just had one big number on hole 11 (a triple bogey). I watched him play some good, gritty golf and then he just made a few mistakes that cost him. But he went straight to the range afterwards and then to the putting green.”
Ankeny’s Evan Hodapp also shot an 80 and placed 16th. Duncan Beelner had an 82 for the Hawks, while Jacob Adams had an 84.
“I think the guys were a little nervous with it being the first event of the season, and our scores just weren’t as good as we would have liked,” Weddingfeld said. “There are definitely some tough holes out there, and I know penalty strokes plagued all the guys.”
Weddingfeld’s son, Caden, was unable to finish his round.
“Caden hurt his wrist on a chunked shot on No. 13, so we will give him a few days to rest and see where he is at,” Weddingfeld said.
Nathan Boehlert carded an 81 for the Jaguars. Tate Logan and Jackson Lewis each finished with an 84.
Tiernan Logan shot a 76 while playing for Centennial’s junior varsity squad.
“We have some real competition right now for our No. 5 and 6 spots, and (Lewis) is right in the thick of it,” Reedy said. “Him and Tiernan needed a playoff to determine who would start in the 6 spot. Jackson won the playoff, but Tiernan came out (Monday) and shot the low round on the team. I told these guys to make my job difficult in terms of deciding the lineup, and Tiernan took that to heart I guess!”
Both teams will be back in action next Monday. The Hawks will face Johnston and Urbandale in a CIML Conference triangular meet at Beaver Creek, while the Jaguars will travel to Jester Park for a conference triangular against Dowling Catholic and Waukee Northwest.
