Playing for the third time in four days, the Ankeny Centennial boys’ golf team placed fifth among 14 squads in the Joe August Invitational on Thursday at Elmwood Country Club in Marshalltown.
The Jaguars posted a score of 313, their highest total of the season.
“It was a long week with some positives but a couple of disappointing finishes,” said Centennial coach Andrew Reedy. “The boys played three times, and today it seemed that we were out of gas a bit–both physically and mentally.”
Eighth-ranked Norwalk shot a 290 to capture the team title, edging No. 6 Southeast Polk by two strokes. No. 10 Dallas Center-Grimes was third with a 303.
Noah Moberg of Dallas Center-Grimes carded a 1-under-par 69 to earn medalist honors. Ian Lux of Norwalk was the runner-up with a 70.
Centennial’s Tiernan Logan fired a 76 to place 13th in a field of 84 players.
“Tiernan had two double bogeys, but otherwise he played very solid all day,” Reedy said. “I like the way he is striking the ball. I hope he just continues to get more and more comfortable with the full swing. He had some opportunities for birdies today, but didn’t really make any putts.”
McCoy Miller took 16th with a 77. Charlie Morrissey finished 17th with a 78.
“McCoy did really well to hang in there after a double bogey on his first hole. He made some birdies and showed some real fight today. Ultimately, he just made a few too many mistakes to shoot the type of score we know he is capable of,” Reedy said. “Charlie hit it pretty well again–he just didn’t make any putts. He will be fine. On Monday he made everything he looked at, so it tends to just even out a bit.”
Nathan Boehlert and Jett Lovanh each shot an 82 for the Jaguars. Preston Zinn finished with an 86.
“The golf course is tough with firm greens and a lot of slope to them,” Reedy said. “If you end up on the wrong side of the hole, it is quite difficult to score.”
Centennial will compete in the Southeast Polk Invitational on Wednesday at Copper Creek.
“We will take it easy this weekend and get ready for an important few weeks ahead,” Reedy said. “We only play once this upcoming week, and that is a welcome fact.”