PLEASANT HILL — It wasn’t a round that generated momentum for the stretch run, but for a young Marshalltown High School boys’ golf team, gaining experience in general is simply part of the process.

The Bobcats played their second meet in as many days, struggling to a 338 team score and a ninth-place finish at the 11-team Southeast Polk Invite on Wednesday at Copper Creek Golf Course.

Dowling Catholic captured the team title with a 306 total, host Southeast Polk was second at 308 and Ankeny was third with a 310.

Marshalltown finished two strokes back of Urbandale in eighth place (336), but comfortably ahead of Ottumwa (363) and Fort Dodge (381).

“We struggled on and around the greens,” said MHS head coach Lucas Johnson. “There were definitely some pins in tough places, but we’re still learning how to grind out rounds and keep scores in the 70s.”

The Bobcats were unable to do that on this day. Ryan Schmit led MHS with his round of 83, followed by Ty Faltys (84), Jacob Thiessen (85) and Cael Sandvick (86). Eli Polley posted a 91 and Brecken Payne finished in with a 92.

Valley’s Braeden Nelson shot a 3-under-par 68 to claim medalist honors ahead of Ankeny’s Drew Hansen, who finished in with a 70.

Schmit took 24th place to lead MHS, which returns home on Tuesday for the final 18 holes of the Iowa Alliance Conference’s North Division meet. The Bobcats cling to a two-stroke advantage, 329-331, ahead of Ames.

“With the conference meet at our place next week and a two-shot lead as a team, we have a great opportunity to put together a strong end to the regular season.”

The second half of the IAC North meet starts at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the American Legion Memorial Golf Course in Marshalltown.

Southeast Polk Invite

At Pleasant Hill

Copper Creek Golf Course, par 71

Team Standings — 1. Dowling Catholic 306, 2. Southeast Polk 308, 3. Ankeny 310, 4. West Des Moines Valley 315, 5. Norwalk 317, 6. Indianola 320, 7. Ankeny Centennial 326, 8. Urbandale 336, 9. Marshalltown 338, 10. Ottumwa 363, 11. Fort Dodge 381.

Individual (top 10) — 1. Braeden Nelson, VAL, 68; 2. Drew Hensen, ANK, 70; 3. Jackson Overton, IND, 74; 4. Gable Strother, AC, 74; 5. Charlie Ferrari, DC, 75; 6. Matthew Dorsey, DC, 75; 7. Sam Wahman, SEP, 75; 8. Evan Hodapp, ANK, 75; 9. Braden Nicholson, NOR, 76; 10. Cooper Sebastian, URB, 77.

MARSHALLTOWN (338) — Ryan Schmit 83, Ty Faltys 84, Jacob Thiessen 85, Cael Sandvick 86, Eli Polley 91, Brecken Payne 92.