PHOTO PROVIDED - The Marshalltown girls’ golf team poses together after finishing fourth at the Southeast Polk Invite on Thursday at Copper Creek Golf Club in Pleasant Hill. Pictured, from left, are Hallie Kuhlers, Hanna Osgood, Emma Clawson, Natalie Henson, Gaby Estabrook, Harper Wilson and Morgan Hilderbrand.

PLEASANT HILL — A few costly penalties paved the way for an uphill day for the Marshalltown girls’ golf team.

Bobcat senior Natalie Henson scored her sixth-straight meet medalist, but the MHS girls couldn’t follow suit with a fourth-place finish at the Southeast Polk Invite on Thursday at Copper Creek Golf Club.

Gilbert collected the tournament title with a 322, followed by Waukee Northwest (337), Norwalk (337) and Marshalltown (341). The host Rams (347) finished fifth in the 14-team invitational.

Henson shot a 1-under-par round of 70 to lead the field and finish atop the standings for the sixth event in a row. It took a cardback to claim this one, but a birdie on the ninth hole was the deciding factor for the Nebraska-Omaha signee.

Gaby Estabrook shot an 86 for the Bobcats, Harper Wilson finished in with a 92, and Morgan Hilderbrand’s 93 rounded out the team’s scoring efforts.

Emma Clawson (101), Hallie Kuhlers (102) and Hanna Osgood (105) also competed for the Bobcats.

“We got off to a rough start with way too many penalty strokes in our opening holes,” said MHS head coach Lucas Johnson. “After settling into the round, I was proud of how the girls battled back. We dug a bit too much of a hole to come all the way back, but we made it close with Northwest and Norwalk.

“Natalie’s start was just the opposite where she torched the opening nine with four birdies.”

Next up for the Bobcats is the Waukee Invite on Monday at Des Moines Golf and Country Club. The Iowa Alliance Conference meet is on Tuesday at Gates Park Golf Course in Waterloo.