WATERTOWN – Aberdeen Central used a balanced effort to shoot its season low score on the way to capturing the team championship at the Watertown Invitational on Tuesday.

The Golden Eagles, with four girls among the top eight, finished with a team total of 323, 12 strokes better than runner-up Harrisburg.

“It’s to the point that today was an exceptional day again,” said Central coach Kim Zimmerman. “It was our season-best team score by seven strokes.”

The Eagles had five golfers all shoot 90 or lower on the day.

“My philosophy has always been lets get four scores in the 80s,” Zimmerman said. “Well, we did that and then some today.”

The squad was led by Leah Gough who finished third with a 79. Emma Dohrer was fifth, also with a 79, Oliva Braun was sixth with an 81, and Kyley Wirebaugh was eighth with an 84. Hayley Wirebaugh was 13th with a 90.

“I’m really happy for Leah. She’s kind of been struggling a little bit. She had a really nice bounce back day with a 79 today,” Zimmerman said. “I’m glad for any of the girls who maybe struggle a little bit and then come back and shoot a good score and feel like they helped the team and just are improving. Meet in and meet out it seems like there’s somebody doing that for us and today it was Leah.”

As has been the case all season long, the Eagles have grouped four scores together to allow themselves a chance to win tournaments.

Some teams have an standout individual or two, but Zimmerman knows how important it is to have a balanced team effort.

“With us, I think we’re trending in that direction of where we could maybe have our five or six golfer really help us out,” Zimmerman said.

Central has just three meets left before the state tournament. The first one takes place on Thursday when the Eagles head to Brookings, site of this year’s state tourney.

While Zimmerman knows that course might not be identical to Thursday’s condition, he believes it will provide a good gauge of what to expect early next month.

“I really think we’re going to get a good idea of what a team score is going to be down there,” he said, “and maybe what it’s going to be for state.”

For now, the Eagles just want to continue to go in the direction they are trending as they head into the biggest meets of the season.

“We just want to keep it going and keep improving,” Zimmerman said.

Team Points: Aberdeen Central 323, Harrisburg 335, Watertown 365, Pierre 369, Brookings 375, Watertown Purple 395, Huron 422.

Top 15 Individual Results

1, Reese Jansa, Harrisburg, 74; 2, Brynn Huber, Huron, 77; 3, Leah Gough, Aberdeen Central, 79; 4, Riley Zebroski, Watertown, 79; 5, Emma Dohrer, Aberdeen Central, 79; 6, Olivia Braun, Aberdeen Central, 81; 7, Mattie Weidenbach, Harrisburg, 82; 8, Kyley Wirebaugh, Aberdeen Central, 84; 9, Ashton Austriem, Brookings, 86; 10, Izzy Driscoll, Harrisburg, 87;

11, Madilyn Brakke, Pierre, 88; 12, Ellie Jo Simpson, Pierre, 89; 13, Hayley Wirebaugh, Aberdeen Central, 90; 14, Delilah Fuls, Brookings, 92; 15, Mya Johnson, Harrisburg, 92.

Other Aberdeen Central golfers: 17, Morgan Jones, 94; 30, Miranda Maas, 102.