PLEASANT HILL — The Class 4A boys state golf tournament will be without a Bobcat for the second time in the last three years.

Marshalltown came up shy of its quest to get at least one golfer back to state for the second year in a row at Tuesday’s district golf meet hosted by Southeast Polk at Copper Creek Golf Club. The Bobcats finished ninth out of 14 teams, while their nearest individual was four strokes off the pace.

“We knew heading into the day that it was going to take something outstanding to qualify both individually and as a team,” said MHS head coach Lucas Johnson. “To think that we had two top-10 teams in the state and two of the top eight ranked players that didn’t make it out (of the district) shows just how loaded the district was with talent.”

Dowling Catholic won the team title with a 294, host Southeast Polk was second at 301 and Norwalk captured the third qualifying spot with a 308. Tenth-ranked Waukee (314), 19th-ranked Indianola (316) and No. 6 West Des Moines Valley (320) all came up short in their pursuit of a spot at state as well.

The Bobcats finished in with a 338 on a course they played two weeks earlier. MHS carded a 336 in the Southeast Polk Invitational on Sept. 24, but couldn’t cut down on the strokes that kept them out of contention.

Marshalltown sophomore Joe Greazel was his team’s top finisher, placing 20th with a round of 8-over-par 79. Greazel was only four strokes back of the district’s two individual qualifiers, as Waukee’s Jonathan Ward (75) and Indianola’s Hayden Stockberger (75) claimed those spots.

“Joe Greazel played well in stretches, but just didn’t get the birdie putts to drop,” said Johnson. “That, combined with some costly double bogeys, was the difference on a day where there really isn’t much room for error.”

Fellow sophomore Bryson Payne was the next Bobcat to the finish line, shooting an 82 to place in 32nd overall. Parker Christen, a junior, posted an 86, while senior Trae Misek was the final counting score with his 91.

“Teamwise, we’re going to miss senior Trae Misek, who really came on strong as a consistent counting score toward the end of the season,” Johnson said.

Sophomore Gavin Misek (93) and junior Jacob Seberger (96) also competed for the Bobcats.

“The fact that five of six varsity players return for next season, along with Korben McKibben who was on the cusp of a varsity spot all season long, sets up well for the squad going forward.”

Class 4A Districts

Copper Creek Golf Club, par 71

Team Standings — 1. Dowling Catholic 294, 2. Southeast Polk 301, 3. Norwalk 308, 4. Waukee 314, 5. Indianola 316, 6. West Des Moines Valley 320, 7. Urbandale 323, 8. Ankeny 327, 9. Marshalltown 338, 10. Ames 342, 11. Des Moines Roosevelt 345, 12. Des Moines Lincoln 374, 13. Des Moines North 393, 14. Des Moines East 416.

Individual (top 10) — 1. Dewell Anderson, DC, 69; 2. Elijah Anderson, DC, 72; 3. Tillman Papcun, NOR, 73; 4. Palmer Mertz, SEP, 74; 5. Cayden Shortell, SEP, 74; 6. Carter Mulcahy, SEP, 74; 7. AJ Sposato, DC, 75; 8. Jonathan Ward, WAU, 75; 9. Hayden Stockberger, IND, 75; 10. Jackson Kepley, AMES, 76.

MARSHALLTOWN (338) — Joe Greazel 79, Bryson Payne 82, Parker Christen 86, Trae Misek 91, Gavin Misek 93, Jacob Seberger 96.