SPENCER — If you play golf, then you’ll completely understand this: Golf is oftentimes unfair.

It can be mean too.

All of the above might come close to explaining why one of the best players in Class 3A will not be in the state tournament field next week.

Webster City senior Nathan Ferrell was denied a third trip to state at a district tournament yesterday. Ferrell shot a 79 at Spencer Country Club to finish one shot out of state contention.

“Golf is just brutal sometimes,” WCHS head coach Eric Dawson said. “Nathan does all of the work and we were totally prepared, but that’s just golf.”

MOC-Floyd Valley’s Justin Schipper (75) and Kyle Christy (78) secured the two individual state invitations.

Ferrell opened with a 40 on the front 9 and came in with a 39. He needed to make a 10-foot putt for par on the 18th green to force a playoff with Christy, but it slid by the cup.

Despite the disappointing end, Ferrell will be remembered as one of the WCHS program’s all-time greats. He was a member of the Lynx 2016 state championship and 2017 state runner-up teams. His sixth-place finish at the state meet in 2017 led the team.

Ferrell is a two-time all-state player and earlier this month claimed a North Central Conference individual title.

“We’re proud of him and everything he’s done for Lynx golf,” Dawson said of Ferrell. “He’s been one of the most decorated players in Lynx history.”