Senior Gavin Ross shot a 78 to help the Ankeny boys’ golf team to a seventh-place finish in the Southeast Polk Invitational on Wednesday at Copper Creek. The Hawks posted a 314 total.
Ross has been the Hawks’ No. 1 player all season, averaging 38.8 strokes for nine holes. He carded a career-best 68 to earn runner-up honors in a triangular meet on Sept. 10 at Otter Creek, where he helped Ankeny to a season-best score of 292.
Here is some inside info on Ross:
How is the season going thus far?
So far, the season has been really fun. Our varsity team has built a great connection and has made every tournament fun to participate in as a team. In regards to my overall scores, I am very happy with how I am ending the season–in the low to mid 70s rounds. The only thing (I wish) I could change about this golf season is going back in time to Briarwood and replaying (the Jesse Peck Invitational).
What did you think of your round at the Southeast Polk Invite?
I’m not too pleased with myself and my round at the SEP Invite, but I took the round as a scouting trip for districts.
What did you think of your team’s performance?
Overall, I think as a team we did well. There is a lot we can and need to do before districts.
Your team will compete in the CIML Conference meet on Wednesday at Beaver Creek. Are you familiar with that course, and if so, what is the key to having a good round there?
I’ve played Beaver a couple of times, and as I remember, the team will need to play well with irons and approach shots to do well. There isn’t a whole lot of trouble (on the course), so good scores will be posted with great approach shots.
You entered the season as the team’s most experienced player. Have you tried to help out some of the guys with less experience when they’ve needed it?
When it comes to helping people with less experience, I try and help them with small swing thoughts. Lots of our players have never played a lot of these courses, so they have questions about the course, and I do my best to walk them through every hole.
I’m sure the highlight of your season thus far was the 68 that you shot at Otter earlier this month. Have you replayed that round in your mind a few times, and do you think about how you can duplicate it?
Since my personal best round in a tournament, I have thought back on it many times and tried to copy how I acted and what I thought throughout each new tournament.
Your team will head back to Copper Creek on Oct. 7 for a Class 4A district meet. How beneficial was it for the guys to see the course and play it at the Southeast Polk Invite?
Playing in the SEP Invite was very nice because it gave our team a practice round in tournament conditions to understand and learn the course a little better, which will be important to scoring better at districts.
Is that a course that gives you a lot of birdie opportunities?
The course isn’t the longest that we play, so distance is good and gives lots of birdie looks that way. But with it being district, the pins will be very difficult and hard to putt, making it slightly more difficult to score.
I know your district is considered perhaps the toughest one in Class 4A, and the top five teams from the Southeast Polk Invite will all be there. Coach Weddingfeld described your team as an underdog, so do you kind of feel like you guys have nothing to lose?
Yes, we are big underdogs going into the district. I wouldn’t say we have nothing to lose because it’s all of our senior years, and only two of the six varsity players have ever played in state. So I would say we only have the experience of state to lose.
Plans for next year? Would you like to play golf in college?
As of now, I don’t have exact plans for college other than a two-year business degree. I would love to play college golf somewhere if the opportunity arises.
The 45th Ryder Cup was held this weekend at Bethpage Black in New York. Did you watch much of it?
I watched as much of the Ryder Cup as I could. I think it’s the best tournament there is in golf.