Ankeny Centennial senior Payton Drefke carded a 10-over-par 81 in the opening round of the girls’ Class 4A state golf meet on Thursday at Otter Creek. She is tied for 21st place in the field of 70 golfers heading into Friday’s final round.
Drefke made 11 pars and had just five bogeys. But a triple bogey on the par-4, No. 2 hole and a double bogey on the par-4, No. 9 hole resulted in a 44 on the front nine.
“She played well,” said Centennial coach John Petersen. “There were just a couple of holes that didn’t go her way. I feel like (Friday) could be a very good day.”
Drefke is playing in her third consecutive state meet–all of them at Otter Creek. She carded rounds of 82 and 79 as a sophomore in 2022, then fired scores of 79 and 81 in last year’s meet.
“I didn’t play how I would’ve liked to today,” said Drefke. “On the front nine I put myself in some tough spots, but on the back nine I executed better. I’m looking forward to (Friday). Hopefully, the weather isn’t anything severe.”
Defending champion Morgan Rupp of Linn-Mar (Marion) sits atop the leaderboard along with Isabella Petterson of Iowa City Liberty. They both shot a 1-under 70 on Thursday.
Saleah Vivanh Vong of Des Moines East/North is a stroke back in third place at even par.
Pleasant Valley, last year’s champ, shot a 315 to take the first-round lead in the team standings. The Spartans lead Cedar Rapids Washington and Waukee Northwest by two strokes.