Ankeny Centennial boys’ golf coach Andrew Reedy feels like his team is going to peak at the right time.
Monday’s Valley Classic at Willow Creek was not time to do that for the Jaguars, who placed sixth in the 12-team field with a 300 total.
“I know we need a better team score at districts in a couple of weeks, but I believe we are due for that,” said Reedy. “We have been so close so many times this year, it feels like we are due for a breakout performance.”
Monday’s meet featured three of the state’s top five teams. Third-ranked Waukee Northwest shot a 282 to win the team title, followed by No. 2 Dowling Catholic with a 286 and No. 5 Valley with a 293.
No. 11 Waukee took fourth with a 294 behind Jonathan Ward, who carded a 2-under-par 69 to earn medalist honors. Runner-up Drake Essing of Northwest also shot a 69 along with his teammate, Blake Cronin.
McCoy Miller led Centennial with a 1-over 72. He finished in 12th place.
“McCoy was just a bit off with everything today and was still able to shoot a 72,” Reedy said. “That is a mark of a good player, when you can shoot a score like that when you don’t have your best.”
Colby Zinn fired a 74 for the Jaguars.
“Colby has really done a nice job the second half of the season,” Reedy said. “He is working really hard, and it is paying off. Today was a hard-nosed performance where he didn’t necessarily hit the ball his best, but he just got the ball in the hole.”
Centennial’s Bennett Lewis and Tiernan Logan each carded a 77. Jackson Lewis shot a 78, and Kinnick Nelson added an 80.
“We had a good talk on the way home, and one thing that came up from the kids was that attention to details needs to be better,” Reedy said. “Club selection off of tees, being precise in our decision-making process before hitting shots, and thinking our way around the golf course. All of these kids have the skills to play great golf; the other part of the game which is managing your game with the particular course you are playing is where we can get better. That will be our focus down the stretch.”
The Jaguars will compete in the Southeast Polk Invitational on Wednesday at Copper Creek.