One of the realities of high school golf is that you can’t control how your opponent plays.
That’s why Ankeny Centennial boys’ coach Andrew Reedy was thrilled with his team’s performance in Thursday’s season opener at Terrace Hills Golf Course in Altoona, even though the Jaguars lost to CIML Conference rivals Johnston and Dowling Catholic in a triangular meet.
Centennial posted a score of 287, which was just four shots off the school record of 283 that was set by the Jaguars at the Fort Dodge Invitational in 2015.
“I am really proud of the guys for how they played,” said Reedy. “If you had told me we would shoot 287 today, I would have taken it 100 times out of 100. It just so happens we ran into a couple teams that shot better than that right out of the gate. You have to just tip your cap to them.”
Johnston, the defending Class 4A state runner-up, shot a 275. Dowling finished with a 278.
The Dragons posted four scores of 72 or better, led by medalist Kolby Stanton with a 65. Teammate Andrew Johanssen was the runner-up with a 67.
Centennial’s McCoy Miller placed fifth overall with a 2-under-par 69.
“McCoy is playing some really nice golf,” Reedy said. “He has played three competitive rounds including our qualifying (rounds) earlier this week, and he is a combined 3-under for those three rounds. Through 11 holes today he was even-par, and I challenged him to shoot something that started with a 6. That meant he needed to play the last seven holes in 2-under. On his last hole, he made about a 6-foot downhill putt that broke away from him to do it.”
Charlie Morrissey carded a 71 for the Jaguars. He tied for sixth with two other golfers.
“Charlie struggled a bit during qualifying, but today he battled and put together a nice round,” Reedy said. “He really couldn’t get any putts to fall for him, but he was hitting mostly good putts that were hitting the edges. That can get frustrating as a golfer, but he did a good job of hanging in there.”
Centennial’s Nathan Boehlert fired a 73. Jett Lovanh shot a 74, Tiernan Logan had a 76, and Jackson Lewis added an 81.
It was the varsity debut for Lovanh.
“Jett has been a great addition to the team this season,” Reedy said. “We knew we were going to need some guys to step in and fill the void left by some seniors from last season, and he has answered that call. Jett has a great attitude and has been playing some good golf to start.”
The Jaguars will host the Jesse Peck Invitational on Monday at Briarwood Golf Club.