The Bobcats claimed two of the three top spots individually but Ames bested MHS by 15 strokes, 172-187 to win an Iowa Alliance dual at Elmwood Country Club.

Natalie Henson came out on top and Gaby Estabrook was third as a result of a cardback tiebreaker when Henson, Estabrook and Ames’ Elizabeth Duncan all shot a 5-over-par 40. Harper Wilson added a 52 and Hanna Osgood was the fourth counting score in the freshman’s first varsity appearance with a 55.

The Little Cyclones, who finished second to the Bobcats at the Iowa Alliance North Division meet last spring, return all six golfers that placed in the top 12 at that meet.

“Ames is the team to beat in our conference,” MHS head coach Lucas Johnson. “They bring everybody back, we have some new spots we’re filling in, so that’ll be what we work toward at the conference level, gaining that consistency.”

Henson appeared to have the individual medalist spot wrapped up without the need for a cardback until the tricky No. 9, unsuccessfully trying several times to chip up the steep hill to the green before finally getting to the summit where she holed out with a triple-bogey.

One group back, Estabrook just missed a meet-winning putt on No. 9 that would’ve given her the outright victory with a 39 for the day, instead settling for par.

“I know [Henson] was disappointed in the way things ended there, but she was able to still do enough to come out on top and was really playing solid golf to that point,” Johnson said. “And Gaby was right there too, so there’s a lot of positives to build off the top of that lineup.”

Those two, coming off another state tournament appearance last season as sophomores, lead the way for the Bobcats this spring – now Johnson said it’s a matter of finding the depth behind that duo.

“They are used to competitive golf in a way that our other girls are still getting to that point,” Johnson said. “That’s what we’re building towards. I was happy to see Osgood, a freshman, come through – she had a nice round for the JV at Fort Dodge yesterday that would’ve counted and she was able to move up into the varsity lineup. She had a lot of good shots tonight for someone who’s still raw when it comes to competitive golf. So we’ll continue to see her grow.”

The Bobcats are back in action next Monday at Willow Creek in Des Moines.