Amber Henson

MASON CITY — Marshalltown freshman Amber Henson shot matching 39s on the front and back at Mason City Country Club on Thursday to lead the Bobcat girls golf team to a fourth-place finish at the CIML Iowa Conference Tournament.

Henson’s 6-over-par round of 78 was good for fourth place individually, while the Bobcats also scored fourth with their 374 team total. Southeast Polk finished one stroke lower than MHS, shooting a 373 to cling to third place.

West Des Moines Valley won the conference crown with a dominant 307 team total driven by five of the seven best scores of the tournament. Waukee was second at 336 followed by Southeast Polk, Marshalltown, Mason City (397) and Fort Dodge (429).

Nine days after falling to Mason City 190-192 in a CIML Iowa dual at Mason City Country Club, the four scoring Bobcats shot a 178 on the front nine during the conference tournament. The progress eroded as the day went on, finishing in with a 196 on the back.

Behind Henson’s 78 was Kyra Feldman shooting a 94, tied for the 15th-best score of the day, followed by Emma Younkin (100) and Norah Wilson (102). Also competing for the ‘Cats were Brynn Van Buren (111) and Sydney Faltys (117).

“We played especially well on the front nine, shooting 178,” said MHS head coach Lucas Johnson. “That’s a 14-shot improvement from what we shot on that same nine just over a week ago in our dual against Mason City. I think playing it again so soon was a definite advantage.

“We struggled a bit more on the back nine and gave away a few shots coming in.”

Henson had both a birdie and an eagle on the front nine and posted a pair of 3-over 39. She charted just three bogeys during a steady back nine.

“Amber Henson had a bit of a roller-coaster round and it was great to see her stay patient and grind out a round in the 70s,” said Johnson. “She started off with a double bogey on the first hole, but followed up with a two-putt birdie on No. 4 after driving the green on the par-4. Two holes later she chipped in for eagle on the par-5 sixth hole.”

Valley’s Paige Hoffman captured conference medalist honors with a 1-under 71, while Waukee’s Brooke Boardman was runner-up with a 76. Valley also counted a 76 by Saffire Sayre and a pair of 80s from Riley Bartlett and Makenzie Campbell.

Marshalltown’s final scheduled meet is the Class 4A Region 3 tournament, which the Bobcats host on Monday at 10 a.m. at the American Legion Memorial Golf Course. Nine other teams visit in search of qualifying for the state meet.

CIML Iowa Conference Meet

At Mason City

Mason City Country Club, par 72

Team Standings — 1. West Des Moines Valley 307, 2. Waukee 336, 3. Southeast Polk 373, 4. Marshalltown 374, 5. Mason City 397, 6. Fort Dodge 429.

Individual (top 10) — 1. Paige Hoffman, VAL, 71; 2. Brooke Boardman, WAU, 76; 3. Saffire Sayr, VAL, 76; 4. Amber Henson, MHS, 78; 5. Riley Bartlett, VAL, 80; 6. Makenzie Campbell, VAL, 80; 7. Jenna Krogulski, VAL, 81; 8. Anne Treep, FD, 83; 9. Thea Lunning, MC, 85; 10. Meghan Doherty, WAU, 85.

MARSHALLTOWN (374) — Henson 78, Kyra Feldman 94, Emma Younkin 100, Norah Wilson 102, Brynn Van Buren 111, Sydney Faltys 117.