The Ankeny boys’ golf team needed to beat one of three higher-ranked teams on Monday in order to qualify for the state meet.
The 15th-ranked Hawks went out and defeated all of them.
Ankeny shot a 298 to win a Class 4A district title at the Ottumwa Country Club. The Hawks advanced to state for the second straight year and the third time in the last five seasons.
“All the guys worked extremely hard today and were mentally exhausted afterwards as today’s round meant the most all season,” said Ankeny coach Mike Weddingfeld. “Get top three or your season is over, and when we found out that we won, it definitely gave us our energy back. I could not be more proud of this team and the work they have put in all season.”
No. 9 North Scott placed second in the 15-team field with a 303. No. 1 Valley, the defending state champion, took third with a 305 and also qualified for state.
No. 6 Southeast Polk placed fourth with a 310 and failed to qualify. The Rams placed third at last year’s state meet.
“Going into today we felt like we had to beat at least one of the top four teams in Valley, Southeast Polk, North Scott and Ottumwa worried me on their home course, so to come away with a win was surprising and huge for our program,” Weddingfeld said.
Ankeny’s Duncan Beelner carded a 3-under-par 69 to earn medalist honors. He edged runner-up Ty Potter of Southeast Polk by one stroke.
“We’d only practiced the course twice in the week prior, and that was our only experience going into districts,” said Beelner. “The key to my success today was putting. I had a lot of putts from 10-plus feet drop, which really helped me play well today. I’m truly excited that we were not only able to qualify as a team but win the district meet as well.”
Beelner made four birdies on the back nine.
“Duncan has played solid all year, and today with the shorter golf course and no wind he was able to really attack the golf course,” Weddingfeld said. “He did have one double bogey and 2 bogeys on his card, but he more than made up for those mistakes with seven birdies on the day. He played absolutely phenomenal.”
Caden Weddingfeld placed seventh for the Hawks with a 75.
“Caden also played another great round of golf today,” said his father. “He did have a few mistakes on the putting green, but he told me that keeping it together mentally for the team is what kept him on his game. He went from 2-under to 1-over in two holes, but he kept it together and finished a great round.
“Mentally, the entire team has grown a ton this year, and we don’t let a few mistakes ruin a round and that has paid off for our team across the board,” he added.
Evan Hodapp and Ryan Constable each shot a 77 to finish 15th and 17th, respectively. Sam Ortega fired an 83, and Gavin Ross had an 84.
“Evan started out with several bad holes in a row, but he is capable of making birdies as well and proceeded to make four birdies and some pars and really put together a solid round after a rough start,” Weddingfeld said. “Ryan stepped up for us today and fired below his average, and that 77 made a huge difference so I am very proud of him as I am all six guys on the team. I feel like we really came together this past few weeks and are playing some of the best golf we have all season.
“We plan to continue to work hard the rest of this week and hope to continue the trend for two more rounds next week,” he added.
The state meet will be played next Monday and Tuesday at Briarwood Golf Club in Ankeny.