PHOTO PROVIDED - The Marshalltown girls’ golf team poses on the 18th green at Elmwood Country Club after Thursday’s Linda Bloom Invite. The Bobcats finished in third place in the competition-rich, 13-team tournament. Pictured, from left, are Lauren O’Neal, Hallie Kuhlers, Harper Wilson, Hanna Osgood, Natalie Henson, Gaby Estabrook, Morgan Hilderbrand, Emma Clawson, Teagan Niedermann and Kenedy Lammert.

It was every bit the four-team showdown Marshalltown head coach Lucas Johnson thought it would be.

His Bobcats, even with the home-course advantage, couldn’t quite get it done.

The Marshalltown girls’ golf team hosted its annual Linda Bloom Invite on Thursday at Elmwood Country Club and came within five strokes of frontrunner Ames. The Bobcats were also only two shots out of fourth place, too, as the top four teams finished within six strokes of each other.

Ames claimed the team title with a 324 team score, finishing ahead of Pleasant Valley and Marshalltown — both at 329 — and Waukee Northwest (330). Pleasant Valley took second in the final team standings due to the fifth-score tiebreaker.

Area teams Grundy Center and BCLUW also competed, placing fifth (380) and 11th (396) respectively, in the 13-team event.

“As anticipated, it was a battle with all four of the top-ranked teams having a chance to take the title,” Johnson said. “We lost some shots down the stretch that cost us, but I think we also learned a lot that will help us as we head into the second half of the season.”

Marshalltown senior Natalie Henson continued her torrid pace with another meet victory, claiming medalist honors with her 1-under-par round of 69.

Ames, Pleasant Valley and Waukee Northwest joined Marshalltown golfers in putting forth the top 16 scores of the day. Marshalltown’s Gaby Estabrook placed ninth with an 83, and Morgan Hilderbrand was 16th with an 88.

Harper Wilson, who placed 19th, rounded out the Bobcats’ scoring with an 89.

Pleasant Valley’s fifth score was 16 strokes better than Marshalltown’s, leaving little down in the tiebreaker for second place.

Grundy Center was led by Avery Knutsen’s 92, while BCLUW’s Leah McEwen topped her team with a 92.

Henson’s medalist round included four birdies, three bogeys and the rest pars.

“Natalie Henson continues to be lights-out and did an awesome job staying patient after a couple early bogeys,” said Johnson. “She’s on an incredible run with three wins where she’s a combined 7-under over her last 54 holes of competitive golf.”

Estabrook and Hilderbrand also earned flags for their top-18 finishes in the tournament.

“We’ll round out a busy week [Friday] up in Fort Dodge and then have some time to prepare for a return trip to Veenker,” Johnson said. “It’s another chance to compete with Ames, who has shown they’re the team to beat in 4A.”

Grundy Center followed up Knutsen’s 92 with a 93 from Leah Larson, a 95 from Holly Lubbert and a 100 from Kahlynn Draper.

BCLUW’s scoring behind McEwen’s 92 included a 95 from Delaney Legg, a 104 from Gracie Andrews and a 105 from Marissa Schnathorst.

Linda Bloom Invite

Elmwood Country Club, par 70

Team Standings — 1. Ames 324, 2. Pleasant Valley 329, 3. Marshalltown 329, 4. Waukee Northwest 330, 5. Grundy Center 380, 6. Dallas Center-Grimes 384, 7. Waukee 388, 8. Nevada 392, 9. Ankeny Centennial 392, 10. Newton 393, 11. BCLUW 396, 12. Mason City 454.

Individual (top 10) — 1. Natalie Henson, MHS, 69; 2. Emersen Motl, AMES, 76; 3. Camille Wood, PV, 76; 4. Macy Button, MHS, 78; 5. Adalyn Wiig, WNW, 81; 6. Lola Minnick, WNW, 82; 7. Anna Weinberger, PV, 82; 8. Hannah Kenkel, WNW, 83; 9. Gaby Estabrook, MHS, 83; 10. Piper Sandfort, WNW, 84.

MARSHALLTOWN (329) — Henson 69, Estabrook 83, Morgan Hilderbrand 88, Harper Wilson 89, Emma Clawson 104, Hallie Kuhlers 110.

GRUNDY CENTER (380) — Avery Knutsen 92, Leah Larson 93, Holly Lubbert 95, Kahlynn Draper 100, Lauren Strohbehn 102, Reagan Pekarek 105.

BCLUW (396) — Leah McEwen 92, Delaney Legg 95, Gracie Andrews 104, Marissa Schnathorst 105, Ainsley Geelhart 113, Jaya Beeghly 124.