Thursday’s Waukee Northwest Invitational at The Legacy Golf Club in Norwalk provided another opportunity for the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys’ golf teams to compete against some of the state’s top squads.
It was also another chance for Centennial junior McCoy Miller to build on his rapidly growing resume.
Miller carded a 3-under-par 69 to tie for first place with AJ Sposato of Dowling Catholic, then won a playoff on the first hole to capture medalist honors for the second straight meet.
“I know I sound like a broken record, but McCoy is playing fantastic and has an incredible mindset,” said Centennial coach Andrew Reedy. “He again had a bad swing–he hit it out of bounds on the par-5 10th hole–that cost him two strokes. He also failed to get up and down from a spot that he usually does. So to reiterate my last comments about McCoy, when he gets it all to click on the same day, we will see a really low (score) from him.”
Miller is now 9-under-par overall through the first five meets.
“I’m really happy with how I am starting the season,” said Miller. “My mental game has been a big reason why I have had success. I feel more calm and just feel more confident with my game.”
Miller led Centennial to an eighth-place finish in the 12-team field. The Jaguars posted a 312 total to tie Southeast Polk for seventh place, but lost a tiebreaker to the Rams for the second time in three days.
“The other guys are struggling right now,” Reedy said. “It is my job to figure out how I can best help them reach their potential and that is my focus.”
Ankeny, meanwhile, finished in ninth place. The Hawks shot a 318.
“Even though we didn’t place very high, I thought today was a good building day for our team,” said Ankeny coach Mike Weddingfeld. “Only Gavin (Ross) had ever played the course before so even though I have six seniors playing varsity we are still ‘green’ when it comes to competition and playing these new courses. All of the guys had a few more putts than they would have liked, but those greens are unlike any we play all year so I thought the guys really battled today.”
Second-ranked Northwest claimed the team title on its home course, shooting a 289. The Wolves placed four golfers in the top 12–all carding a 73 or better.
No. 4 Dowling placed second with a 295. The Maroons edged Waukee by one stroke for the runner-up spot.
Ross placed 22nd for the Hawks with a 76.
“Gavin started the day with a double bogey on his first hole (No. 17), but then battled back to get to even on the day,” Weddingfeld said. “He wishes he had the last three holes back as he finished bogey, bogey and double (bogey), but he posted a solid round for us and I expect him to just keep getting better.”
Ankeny’s Ryan Constable fired an 80. Chase Ortega and Griffen Beelner each had an 81, Riley Dueker shot an 87, and Elliott McHose added a 92.
“Ryan, Chase and Griffen also played really solid rounds,” Weddingfeld said. “I felt like the guys did a great job of staying positive and focused, and that will pay off in the long run. Our games right now are high 70s to low 80s and that is what the guys shot on an unfamiliar and very challenging course so I am happy with today’s rounds.”
Kinnick Nelson carded an 80 for the Jaguars. Jett Lovanh fired an 81, Tiernan Logan had an 82, Jackson Lewis shot an 86, and Everett Bloyer finished with an 87.
“We are a much better team than our last couple of outings suggest, and I have zero doubt that we can turn things around,” Reedy said. “They each have shown moments of their potential, and it is more than good enough to accomplish our goals. We are back to the grind (Friday) at practice!”
Both Ankeny and Centennial will compete in the Fort Dodge Invitational on Tuesday at the Fort Dodge Country Club.