Her new personal best was a crucial score for the Bobcats’ runner-up finish, qualifying for the state meet with a top-2 team finish at a Class 4A regional final at American Legion Memorial Golf Course on Wednesday.

Marshalltown shot a 353 to qualify along with champions Western Dubuque shooting a 333. Norwalk shot a 360 for third. The Class 4A state meet is at Otter Creek in Ankeny on May 23-24.

“I wasn’t on varsity my freshman year when the girls went to state,” Kuhlers said. “It has always been my goal to make it as a team in my high school career, and today was just a great day to go do that.”

The Bobcats were led by meet medalist Natalie Henson, who shot a 5-over 76 to win the individual title by three strokes. Gaby Estabrook was sixth overall with an 83 — Henson and Estabrook were recognized as individual state qualifiers with their top-6 finishes and will be making their third state trip in as many years after qualifying as part of the third-place team at state in 2022 and as individuals in 2023.

T-R PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER - Marshalltown juniors Gaby Estabrook, left, and Natalie Henson pose with their individual medals and tickets to the state meet after Wednesday’s Class 4A regional final at the American Legion Memorial Golf Course.

But Harper Wilson’s 90 and Kuhlers’ new PR of 104 put the Bobcats over the top in what was a tight race with Norwalk and Waterloo West for that last qualifying spot.

“Hallie was clutch today, providing the best round of her life on the most important day of the season,” MHS head coach Lucas Johnson said. “And our top three scorers today played really well on the back nine after being a bit shaky on the front. It’s a credit to the team just sticking with and not getting too far ahead of themselves, just doing their best to stay in the moment.”

Henson had birdies on No. 3 and No. 12 to counter five bogeys, including double-bogeys on No. 5 and No. 10.

“I was definitely missing a lot of putts,” Henson said. “It was stressful because we were so close team-wise, and I just wanted to do good for the team.”

As a junior with state-title aspirations though, Henson was able to right the ship quickly, Johnson said.

T-R PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER - Marshalltown sophomore Harper Wilson putts from above the hole on the 12th green during Wednesday’s Class 4A regional final at the American Legion Memorial Golf Course.

“One or two bad holes is not going to derail her from being in contention for medalists,” Johnson added. “She may want those holes back but she played well.”

Henson is determined to compete for the 4A state title, but is grateful to have the team along for the ride.

“It’s so much more sweet to have the team going,” Henson said. “The girls have really put in the work and we’ve grown with our team chemistry and helping each other out.

Estabrook said she was tense in the front nine, including a nasty quadruple-bogey on No. 5, but was able to rebound on the back nine.

“I think in a sense that [quadruple-bogey] almost helped her calm her nerves and make her feel like, OK, I can breathe, it’s not going to get worse than that,” Johnson said. “We talked about that when she made the turn, that she just needed to stick with it because she wasn’t out of it.”

A strong par save on No. 17 with a long putt from the lip of the green was a big boost right before the end of Estabrook’s round.

“It felt like a weight was lifted off my heart,” Estabrook said. “I just needed to trust myself and my round got a lot better from there.”

Wilson was one stroke off playing bogey golf as the sophomore continues to be a consistent third scorer for the Bobcats.

“She’s been so instrumental to our team success,” Johnson said. “I watched her birdie No. 15 and then hit an incredible shot from the trees on No. 16 to save bogey when that number could have gone really high. It’s those types of shots down at the end where she just stuck with it and minimized the damage in a tight team race. She’s done a tremendous job.”

Freshmen Hanna Osgood and Emma Clawson contributed non-scoring rounds of 108 and 120 but will get the kind of crucial state experience that Henson and Estabrook got as freshmen.

“The best teams in the state are going to be there, but at the end of the day, we’re just going out and playing golf,” Johnson said. “The same schools we’ve seen all year, the same girls they’ve played with all year. And we know Otter Creek really well. It’s a course that sets our girls up really well.”

Henson was ninth last year at Otter Creek with a two-day total of 151. Estabrook finished 23rd with a 170.

“Making those short putts, even those seven footers, that’s where it definitely comes in,” Henson said of improving on her top-10 finish from last year.

Estabrook added, “Practicing with the girls and keeping the season going on longer will just be so fun. We always have fun together in practice and it’ll be great to make the town and community proud.”