It was a humid day, and with some holes on Briarwood making for a long walk it was not perfect conditions, despite the sunshine. Head coach Lucas Johnson said the team doesn’t have as much experience at this course as with others on the schedule, saying the lack of experience likely played a small factor.

“This course is one that our guys have not played a ton at,” Johnson said. “I think some of our guys played this in a junior varsity invitational a few years back, but I think it’s kind of the opposite of what we had a few weeks ago with Ames and Ankeny coming to our place at Elmwood.”

The Bobcats had a co-medalist score from senior Grant Greazel, who shot a 1-under-par 35 to lead the team from the No. 1 spot. Greazel played steady golf and continued his blistering start to the 2021 season, marking his fifth event with medalist or co-medalist honors. He tied for the honors with Ankeny Centennial’s Ben Meier, who shot a 35 from the No. 6 spot on the team, providing the winning boost for the Jaguars. The unexpected round from Meier threw a wrench in the Bobcats’ equation, Johnson said, and showcased the unpredictable nature of nine-hole events.

Second for the Bobcats was a 2-over 38 from Colin Schmit, who got off to a blistering start with three birdies in four holes before an out-of-bounds shot on the fifth hole and double-bogey on the seventh took him out of red figures.

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING - Marshalltown senior Colin Schmit attempts a putt on the ninth green at Briarwood Golf Club during Monday’s dual meet against Ankeny Centennial in Ankeny.

Johnson was impressed with how the team battled. He also said it was another example of how important all six varsity players are during a golf meet.

“One thing we take away is how our guys battled and hung in there,” Johnson said. “I think the other thing you take away is sometimes you’ve just got to tip your hat for a great round. He won it for them, with that score coming in from the No. 6 spot. We were looking good in the top four.”

Drake Polley shot 3-over 39 to finish third on the team, and Ryan Schmit had a difficult outing, shooting 5-over 41 and coming in fourth. The fifth and six scores on the team were from Jacob Thiessen (43) and Eli Polley (44). Centennial got rounds of even-par 36 from Jack Winkel and 39 from Caden Kelling to back up Meier’s round.

This result will give Centennial the upper hand in CIML Iowa Conference standings at the end of the regular season.

It was small missteps that helped cost the Bobcats the win, Johnson said.

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING

“We knew coming in it was going to be a tough battle, a close battle,” Johnson said. “It came down to a couple shots here and there.

“In a nine-hole meet, those are the things that get amplified and just because of the fact that you have so few holes to play.”

Up next for the Bobcats is next Wednesday, Sept. 8, in the Ankeny Invitational at Otter Creek. Twelve CIML schools will take part.

Ankeny Centennial 151, Marshalltown 153

At Ankeny

Briarwood Golf Club, front nine, par 36

Co-Medalists — Ben Meier, AC, 35; Grant Greazel, MHS, 35.

ANKENY CENTENNIAL (151) — Meier 35, Jack Winkel 36, Caden Kelling 39, Ethan King 41, Kellen Welsch 41, Lawson Hatchmeister 43.

MARSHALLTOWN (153) — Greazel 35, Colin Schmit 38, Drake Polley 39, Ryan Schmit 41, Jacob Thiessen 43, Eli Polley 44.