The final round of her high school golf career was a memorable one for Ankeny Centennial’s Payton Drefke.
Drefke shot a 5-over-par 76 on Friday in the second round of the girls’ Class 4A state meet at Otter Creek. She posted a 36-hole total of 157 to tie for 16th place with five other golfers.
“She played very well today,” said Centennial coach John Petersen.
Drefke placed 15th in last year’s state meet after tying for 15th place as a sophomore. Both of those meets were also held at Otter Creek.
Prior to Friday, though, Drefke had never scored lower than 79 in any round at the state meet.
“I played the course more how I wanted to today,” said Drefke. “It felt good to put the ball close to the hole a few times and get a few birdies. My putting was better which helped too.”
Drefke started her round with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 1 and 2. However, she had double bogeys on Nos. 7 and 9 to finish with a 40 on the front nine.
Drefke also had a double bogey on No. 9 on Thursday, when she carded an 81 in the opening round.
“I still had a couple shots I wish I could have back and do over, but overall I felt good finishing high school with that round and rebounding from (Thursday),” said Drefke, who had a birdie on No. 13 en route to a 36 on the back nine. “Time flies, and I can’t believe that was my last high school meet. I can’t say enough good things about this team along with coach Pete and coach Morgan. I have a lot of great memories these past four years.”
Morgan Rupp of Linn-Mar (Marion) fired a 4-under 67 on Friday to defend her Class 4A crown. She posted a two-day total of 137 to finish three strokes ahead of runner-up Isabella Pettersen of Iowa City Liberty.
Pleasant Valley shot a 627 total to win its second straight team title. Waukee Northwest and Cedar Rapids Washington tied for second at 634.