It appears that there isn’t much separation between the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys’ golf teams.
The two squads collided on Thursday for the third time in nine days. They again battled down to the wire to a close finish.
The Jaguars shot a 327 and placed seventh among 12 teams in the Waukee Northwest Invitational at The Legacy Golf Club in Norwalk. Ankeny posted a 329 total and finished eighth under some difficult conditions.
“It’s a tough golf course,” said Centennial coach Andrew Reedy. “The hole locations and course setup at this event are always tough. It is a battle of attrition as much as it is golf, but it was a great growth opportunity for my kids. They are constantly learning that creativity and imagination is a part of golf–that all shots aren’t flat lies with no wind to a flat surface with a flag in the middle. The age these kids are and the stages of golf development they are in make for really exciting possibilities for improvement in these areas.”
The Hawks had edged Centennial by one stroke in a triangular meet on Wednesday at Briarwood Golf Club. On Aug. 19, the Jaguars shot a 306 and defeated Ankeny by four shots to place sixth in the Jesse Peck Invitational at Briarwood.
“Today was just one of those days you have to take in stride,” Ankeny coach Mike Weddingfeld said after Thursday’s meet. “We did not putt well, but we are not used to greens like those. We didn’t have anyone go low for us so we just played a hard course that we are not familiar with, and the course beat us up a little today.”
Dallas Center-Grimes shot a 299 to win the team title. Waukee was second with a 302, edging defending champion Northwest by two strokes.
Waukee freshman Sam Federly carded a 2-under-par 70 to earn medalist honors. Teammate Jonathan Ward was the runner-up with a 72.
Kinnick Nelson fired a 76 to lead Centennial. He tied for 12th place with Northwest’s Maxx Newman.
“That was a really good 76 for Kinnick,” Reedy said. “He was really frustrated with himself after his round as he forced a shot on his last hole that led to a bogey. But I am super proud of how he played.”
Everett Bloyer shot an 83 for the Jaguars. Charlie Knoll and Ricky Beckwith each had an 84, Nathan Grider carded an 86, and Bennett Lewis had an 89.
“After Wednesday night, having lost on our home course to our crosstown rival and me challenging them to take a look at their approach and effort level, I am proud of how they all responded to those challenges,” Reedy said. “None of them are happy with the score they shot, but I am happy with every single kid’s attitude and effort!”
Drew Boyd led the Hawks with an 81. Drake Shadwick and Trey Huynh each fired an 82, Oliver Bormann shot an 84, Charlie McHose had an 89, and Ethan Klocke finished with a 91 in his varsity debut.
“It was another learning experience and the boys handled it well so we will get back to the practice green for a couple days and look to improve,” Weddingfeld said.
Both Ankeny and Centennial will compete in the Fort Dodge Invitational on Tuesday at the Fort Dodge Country Club.