The tough start will make head coach Trevor Larson feel even better about the team’s third-place standing after the first round, sitting with a four-score total of 344.

Larson was impressed with how his golfers started their rounds given the tough holes and the pressures of championship golf.

“I thought we came out and all six of our guys started real well,” Larson said. “Which was gonna be huge for us, just getting the nerves out of the way and getting off the first tee well and getting the first few holes under your belt. After that, I thought most of them settled in.”

The Redhawks find themselves 11 shots behind overnight leader AGWSR, which shot a 333 and carries a five-stroke lead on Newell-Fonda (338) going into today’s final 18 holes.

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING - North Tama senior Paden Ketter pitches out of trouble behind the 13th green during Thursday’s opening round of golf at the state tournament at Westwood Golf Course in Newton. Ketter is tied for 10th place after shooting a 10-over-par 81.

Individually, the best round of North Tama’s day came from junior Michael Bell, who shot an 8-over-par 79 and sits fifth in the individual standings, three shots off the lead. Bell played well on the front nine with a 1-under 35, counterbalancing a difficult 44 on the back nine of the course. Senior leader Paden Ketter had an up-and-down day with a 10-over 81. Ketter struggled through a few difficult holes and had a 7 on his fourth hole of the day, the par-four 18th.

The front nine was smoother for the senior, as he shot a 4-over 40 with five pars and four bogeys. He then went 1-over on his last five holes of the round, and Larson was proud of how he was able to calm the storm and keep fighting.

This mentality of always looking toward the next shot is something Larson has tried to drill into the Redhawks’ brains.

North Tama did not have another score under 90 — the next best score was from the duo of Jack Schaefer and Michael Schrier, who each shot 92. The final counting score was from Aaron Snider, who shot 98. It was not the Redhawks’ best day on the course — but for a team with only two seniors in Ketter and Snider, their experience Thursday will prove important tomorrow, Larson said.

“I think we should have confidence going in tomorrow,” Larson said. “Especially with some good scores from some of our guys. Really nothing to lose, and hopefully we can make a run at it.”

Friday, the Redhawks will tee off on holes 16, 17, 18 and 1 at 9 a.m. for the second and final round of the state tournament with an outside shot at the title.