The Ankeny Centennial and Ankeny boys’ golf teams finished in the middle of the pack at the Jesse Peck Invitational on Wednesday.
Playing on their home course at Briarwood Golf Club, the Jaguars placed sixth in the 12-team field with a 306 total. The top five teams all broke 300, including three squads that finished under par.
“We had four triple bogeys and a double bogey in our four counting scores,” said Centennial coach Andrew Reedy. “If we can eliminate the big numbers or minimize them, we will be around or under 300. So I am encouraged by that.”
Norwalk shot a 282 to capture the team title, edging Dallas Center-Grimes by one stroke. Southeast Polk was third with a 286.
Ankeny finished seventh with a 310 total. It was the first meet of the season for the Hawks, whose entire lineup made their varsity debuts on Wednesday.
“I was actually happy with our seventh place finish,” said Ankeny coach Mike Weddingfeld. “With the top five teams shooting so low, it almost felt to me like two separate tournaments–the top five battling it out and the next seven battling. My hat’s off to the top three teams shooting under par, and that shows the high level of competition we will face all year.
“Finishing in the middle of the field with a brand new team in their first tournament of the season feels like a win to me,” he added.
Ankeny’s Drew Boyd and Centennial’s Kinnick Nelson both earned top-20 finishes in a field of more than 90 players. Boyd tied for 12th with a 72.
“Drew played great today,” Weddingfeld said. “He really battled as he had some bogeys, but he found a way to make some birdies as well.”
Nelson tied for 14th with a 73.
“Kinnick posted a good score with not his best stuff,” Reedy said. “He has been fighting some putting woes and made a few mistakes with irons or wedges in his hand, but he held it together and got the ball in the hole. It was nice to see him post a good score without his ‘A’ game.”
Nathan Grider shot a 75 for the Jaguars. He tied for 22nd overall.
“Nathan had a great bounce back today after a tough varsity debut on Monday,” Reedy said. “He made a triple bogey on No. 11, but other than that he played very solid golf.”
Centennial’s Everett Bloyer carded a 78. Charlie Knoll had an 80, Max Gladson fired an 81, and Bennett Lewis added an 82.
“We had some kids start rough and battle back to post the best score they possibly could,” Reedy said. “I’m really proud of how they hung in there when giving up was an option. Everett was 7-over through 10 holes and played the last eight holes in 1-under. Charlie was 10-over through 10 and played the last eight holes in 2-under. Max and Bennett also had their struggles, but again they competed the entire 18 holes and that is all I can ask for!”
Drake Shadwick and Trey Huynh each carded a 79 for the Hawks.
“Drake and Trey played better than their final scores as they both had a few bad holes that ballooned their scores, but overall they played solid golf,” Weddingfeld said.
Oliver Bormann shot an 80 for Ankeny’s fourth counting score. Brody Burg and Charlie McHose each had an 85.
“I really have to give some props to Oliver as he started the day at the range warming up and his 3 wood head came unglued and then a few swings later the face of his driver broke off so he played today’s round down two important clubs, and that’s not a way anyone wants to start the day of their first varsity appearance,” Weddingfeld said. “But he handled it like a veteran and posted a respectable score for us.
“It is always good to get that first competition under your belt, and I am proud of all six guys today handling the nerves and long day on the course,” he added.
Waukee’s Jonathan Ward carded a 66 to earn medalist honors. He finished three strokes ahead of five other golfers.
The meet was held despite some flooding that left holes No. 16, 17 and 18 unplayable. All of the golfers played holes No. 6, 7 and 8 twice in order to make it an 18-hole round.
Ankeny and Centennial will collide again next Wednesday in a CIML Conference triangular meet at Briarwood. Valley will also compete in the meet that begins at 1:30 p.m.