There will be some new faces in the lineup for the Ankeny girls’ golf team when the Hawkettes open their season on Monday by competing in the Waukee Northwest Invitational at The Legacy Golf Club in Norwalk.
Only three varsity regulars are back from last year’s squad that posted a 1-7 dual record in the CIML Conference.
“We just want to keep getting better,” said Ankeny coach Kelley Emke. “We haven’t set our team goal yet this year.”
Emke said 10 girls participated in the team’s preseason sessions. Ankeny held its first practice on March 23 after an unseasonably warm weekend that saw the temperatures soar into the 80s.
“We did some open hitting since January on our simulators,” Emke said. “But all of the nice weather has us really hoping to get outside right away.”
Juniors Aubree Moeller and Catherine Nelson and sophomore Madalyn Ross are the team’s returning varsity regulars. Lydia Gerety is the only senior on the roster.
“We have four freshmen so that is great!” Emke said. “Unfortunately, our loss in numbers is due to three of our sophomores deciding not to stay out. I’m not sure if anyone else will show up on Day 1.”
Ross was the team’s No. 2 player as a freshman behind her sister Isabella, who graduated last spring. Madalyn posted a 48.7 average for nine holes.
Ross shot a season-best 39 in a triangular meet at Sugar Creek, where she placed third overall while helping the Hawkettes to a 175-211 victory over Urbandale. She later carded a 36-hole total of 181 to finish 17th in the two-day conference meet.
Ross then fired a 98 to help Ankeny to a fifth-place finish in a Class 4A regional meet at Elmwood Country Club in Marshalltown.
“Last year we got fifth at regionals, and I want to continue to see that improve by improving our scores as a team,” Emke said. “Last year the goal was 380 or below so this year I would say we want to try to get that to 360 or below.”
Moeller posted an average score of 51.8 as a sophomore. She led the team with a 90 in the Lamson Invitational at Willow Creek.
Nelson, meanwhile, posted an average of 56.7. After shooting a 134 in last year’s opener at The Legacy, she improved throughout the season and eventually lowered her score to a 97 in the Southeast Polk Invitational at Copper Creek, where she helped the Hawkettes to a 10th-place finish.
“I’m looking for each of the girls to keep reducing their scores and work on consistency,” Emke said. “We are also planning to have a heavy focus on mental performance. That is so important in golf so we are going to work together to make sure we have the tools to come back from bad shots and bad holes and build on good shots and good holes.”