Senior Duncan Beelner led the Ankeny boys’ golf team to a runner-up finish in a CIML Conference triangular meet on Thursday at River Valley Golf Course in Adel. He carded a 2-under-par 70 to earn medalist honors in the season-opening meet.
Beelner placed third on the team last year with a 39.3 average. He tied for 43rd place in the Class 4A state meet at Otter Creek, helping the Hawks to a 10th-place finish.
Here is some inside info on Beelner:
Congratulations on your victory at River Valley. Were you surprised that you played so well over there, since coach Mike Weddingfeld told me that none of the guys had played it prior to a practice round on Wednesday?
Thank you. I wasn’t really surprised because the course was pretty open, and my ball striking and putting were in a great spot coming into our meet.
You began your round by making a nice long putt for a birdie on the No. 1 hole. Did that make you think it was going to be a good day?
I definitely felt that it was going to be a good day. Making a long putt like that on the first hole really settles the nerves for the rest of the round.
Coach told me, however, that you missed several makeable putts throughout your round. Do you feel like you could score even better if you played the course again?
I do think I could score even better if I played it again, but a 70 is still a great round regardless.
What did you think of your team’s performance?
We definitely had a couple good rounds and we could’ve scored better as a team, but it’s still early in the season and I would just chalk it up to nerves.
Did you play in a lot of tournaments over the summer, and how did you do? What was the highlight for you?
I did play in many tournaments this summer, and they all went pretty well aside from a couple rounds but that happens. The highlight for me was qualifying for an AJGA event in Austin, Minn.
You are one of four returning varsity regulars for the Hawks, but the team did graduate its top two players from a year ago. Are you trying to be a leader for the squad this season?
Absolutely. Someone needs to be able to anchor down the team. Kind of like what Drew (Hensen) was able to do for us last year.
The CIML Conference boasts some of the state’s top teams, including the top three finishers in last year’s Class 4A state meet–Valley, Johnston and Southeast Polk. Who do you think is the team to beat this year?
I think the team to beat this year is Valley. They have five of six players returning and are overall just a solid team.
Do you think your team is capable of making it to state again and finishing higher than last year?
I think we are very capable of making it to state again this year and definitely finishing higher as well.
What are your individual goals?
My individual goal is to finish with a 75 or better scoring average.
I assume that you’d like to play golf in college. Have you looked at any schools yet, and do you know what you want to study?
I do want to play golf in college. I have talked to some schools mostly in the state. I think I want to study something in finance or possibly go to Nebraska for PGA Management.
