PHOTO PROVIDED - The Marshalltown girls’ golf team finished second at the Turk Bowman Invite on Tuesday at Veenker Memorial Golf Course in Ames. Pictured, from left, are Emma Clawson, Harper Wilson, Gaby Estabrook, Natalie Henson, Hanna Osgood and Morgan Hilderbrand.

AMES — Nothing like running the gauntlet just to get ready for another daunting challenge ahead.

The Marshalltown girls’ golf team upped its degree of difficulty with Tuesday’s trip to the Turk Bowman Invite, and the Bobcats emerged with plenty to show for it.

MHS finished in second place behind host Ames, while senior standout Natalie Henson claimed medalist honors around the formidable Veenker Memorial Golf Course layout.

The host Little Cyclones scored a 350 to win the tournament, while Marshalltown was second at 368. Norwalk (383), Indianola (387) and Gilbert (389) gave chase in the 14-team event.

Henson finished in with a 1-over-par 73 to claim medalist honors, and Gilbert’s Ella Lohrbach was runner-up with a 75.

“Natalie’s playing at a high level right now and doing a great job managing her game,” said MHS head coach Lucas Johnson. “She was in a tight battle down the stretch and had a great chip on 17 for birdie and another birdie on 18 to seal the win.”

Marshalltown’s Gaby Estabrook earned 10th place with her 92. Morgan Hilderbrand (101) and Emma Clawson (102) completed the Bobcats’ scoring efforts, followed by Harper Wilson (105) and Hanna Osgood (115).

“Teamwise we knew it would be all about mitigating the damage after a bad shot, and for the most part we did that well,” Johnson said. “There are still a lot of shots we can clean up around the green, but tough courses like Veenker ultimately make us a better team in the long run.”

That will come in handy when a star-studded cast of challengers come to Elmwood Country Club on Thursday for the Linda Bloom Invitational.

“We’ll have a good practice tomorrow and then we’re looking forward to the Linda Bloom on Thursday, where we’ll have all four of the top-ranked teams in 4A competing against each other for the first time this season,” Johnson said.

The attendees will be Ames, Ankeny Centennial, BCLUW, Dallas Center-Grimes, Grundy Center, Mason City, Nevada, Newton, Ottumwa, Pleasant Valley, Waukee and Waukee Northwest.