WEST DES MOINES — The Marshalltown girls’ golf is heating up at the right time, led by their senior firestarter.
Natalie Henson claimed medalist honors for the seventh-straight event and the Bobcats collected third place out of 14 teams at the Waukee Invitational on Monday at Des Moines Golf and Country Club.
Henson shot a 3-under-par 33 on the back nine to rally for medalist honors with her even-par 72, overtaking Waukee Northwest’s Lola Minnick by three strokes. The Wolves won the team title with a 313, followed by Ames (318) and the Bobcats (326). West Des Moines Valley (340) was fourth.
“Waukee Northwest played some great golf on their home course and it was impressive to watch Natalie slowly chip away at the lead after digging a hole early on in the round,” said MHS head coach Lucas Johnson. “It was an awesome back nine for Natalie to get the come-from-behind victory. She was dialed in with her irons and was able to get the feel for the greens in the closing stretch.”
Waukee Northwest finished second, third and fourth with Minnick (75), Piper Sandfort (76) and Adalyn Wiig (77) leading the way.
Marshalltown got a season-best round from senior Harper Wilson, who earned eighth place in the tournament with her round of 80. Fellow senior Gaby Estabrook contributed an 83 for 15th place, and freshman Morgan Hilderbrand added a 91 to the final team tally.
Emma Clawson (101) and Hallie Kuhlers (115) also competed for the Bobcats.
Marshalltown is right back at it today with the Iowa Alliance Conference Tournament, which tees off at 10 a.m. at Gates Park Golf Course in Waterloo.
Waukee Invitational
Des Moines Golf and Country Club, par 72
Team Standings — 1. Waukee Northwest 313, 2. Ames 318, 3. Marshalltown 326, 4. West Des Moines Valley 340, 5. Waukee 360, 6. Johnston 362, 7. Southeast Polk 362, 8. Ankeny Centennial 376, 9. Ankeny 382, 10. Dowling Catholic 402, 11. Ottumwa 406, 12. Urbandale 432.
Individual (top 10) — 1. Natalie Henson, MHS, 72; 2. Lola Minnick, WNW, 75; 3. Piper Sandfort, WNW, 76; 4. Adalyn Wiig, WNW, 77; 5. Emersen Motl, AMES, 77; 6. Elizabeth Duncan, AMES, 80; 7. Macy Button, AMES, 80; 8. Harper Wilson, MHS, 80; 9. Shanel Sayre, VAL, 81; 10. Jessie Lohman, AMES, 81.
MARSHALLTOWN (326) — Henson 72, Wilson 80, Gaby Estabrook 83, Morgan Hilderbrand 91, Emma Clawson 101, Hallie Kuhlers 115.