Ankeny sophomore Madalyn Ross carded an 86 in the final round of the girls’ Class 4A state golf meet on Friday and placed 41st overall with a 36-hole total of 175.
Ross had opened the tournament on Thursday with an 89 at Waverly Municipal Golf Course.
“I’m very happy with my score today as I didn’t have any shots go out of bounds like I did (Thursday),” Ross said. “I think I just had some very unlucky distances with them, and that was what didn’t go the best. I was happy with my score (in the first round), even if I didn’t have the scores I wanted.”
Ross’ final round was highlighted by a birdie on the par-3, No. 6 hole. She also had seven pars, including one on the par-4, No. 3 hole where she hit the ball out of bounds on Thursday and struggled to a 9.
Ross had a 44 on the front nine Friday after shooting a 48 on the same nine holes the day before.
“On No. 6, I was off the green on the fringe and had the help of my assistant coach (Jack Benkufsky) to help me read the putt and I made it from there,” Ross said. “I feel like I hit my shots better (Thursday), but just had a worse score due to going out of bounds that I didn’t have today. I am still very happy that I was able to have the experience of state, and I hope to do it as a team for the next two years.”
Ankeny coach Kelley Emke said she was “incredibly proud” of Ross.
“Today was a harder day mentally just due to the heat and exhaustion, but she pushed through and ended strong,” Emke said. “I can’t wait to see all that this team does next year and the leadership she will bring from this experience.”
Camille Wood of Pleasant Valley won a playoff against Kylie Wachtl of Cedar Rapids Prairie to capture the individual title. Wachtl entered Friday with a three-stroke lead after shooting a 68 in the opening round, but Wood fired a 65 in the final round to match Wachtl’s two-day total of 137.
Wood also led her team to the Class 4A crown in convincing fashion. The Spartans shot a 284 on Friday and posted a total of 587 to finish 40 strokes ahead of Waukee Northwest, which had trailed by just seven shots after the opening round.
Cedar Rapids Washington and Southeast Polk tied for third at 661.