Ankeny senior Drew Hensen put himself into contention for an individual title by shooting a 4-over-par 75 in the opening round of the boys’ Class 4A state golf meet on Friday at Otter Creek.
Hensen is currently tied for fourth place heading into Saturday’s final round. He is three strokes out of the lead.
Many of the golfers struggled in the cold and windy conditions. Ankeny shot a 327 and is in ninth place in the 12-team field, while Ankeny Centennial finished with a 330 total and sits in 11th place.
Valley leads the Class 4A field with a score of 302. Southeast Polk is in second with a 307, followed by defending state champion Johnston with a 313.
Only nine strokes separate fourth place from 11th, so there will be an opportunity for both Ankeny and Centennial to move up in the standings on Saturday.
Ankeny’s Duncan Beelner carded an 80 on Friday. Evan Hodapp shot an 84 for the Hawks, Caden Weddingfeld had an 88, Jacob Adams fired an 89, and Kyler Crimmins added a 91.
Zach Hoffman carded an 80 to lead Centennial. Charlie Morrissey shot an 81 for the Jaguars, Jackson Lewis had an 82, Nathan Boehlert fired an 87, Tiernan Logan had an 88, and Tate Logan finished with a 91.
Owen Howe of Johnston and Dylan Susemihl of LeMars are the individual co-leaders with a 1-over 72. Braeden Nelson of Valley, last year’s runner-up, sits in third place at 74.
Hensen is part of a four-way tie with Jack Rogers of Iowa City High and Aidan McGreen and Cade Sunde of Valley. Hensen and Rogers will play in the same foursome on Saturday.
Defending champion Reid Hall of Cedar Rapids Kennedy shot an 83 and is tied for 39th place.