SAUK CENTRE-Gavin Metz is headed to state.
Metz finished sixth Thursday in the Section 8-3A finals to advance as to state as an individual, but he's going alone as the Brainerd Warriors saw their eight-shot lead eaten up by the Moorhead Spuds.
Moorhead shaved 22 strokes off its opening round 314 to shoot 292 and win the section team title by nine strokes over the Warriors at Greystone Golf Course.
The Warriors, who opened with a 306 Wednesday, faltered to a 309 Thursday.
"It's pretty quiet in the van," said Warriors head coach Brian Wallace. "The thing is when you come up against a great team that plays better than you, you can always look back on the day and say you did your best. They were just better than we were. You have to take that for what it is worth. We came in second. We haven't had a second-place finish for years at the section tournament. They need to hold their chins high and be proud of what they accomplished. Eventually they'll figure that out. Right now they're pretty devastated."
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Metz shaved three strokes off his opening round to shoot a two-day 151 to place sixth. He said his putter was his saving grace.
"It feels great," Metz said about advancing. "I feel bad the rest of the guys didn't make it. But I just tried not putting too much pressure on myself. My round was going up and down. I made a few birdies and then fell a little bit, but struck back and made some more."
Wallace said Metz is very deserving adding the freshman was the most consistent player on the roster.
"The amazing thing about Gavin and his game is he is in complete mental control," Wallace added. "He never waivers high or low. He's a great ball striker physically, but he really has command of the mental side of the game."
Senior Joe Foley, who opened with a 75 shot 78 Thursday to tie for seventh with a 153. That forced him into a playoff, which he lost on the fourth hole.
Senior Andrew Muesing and sophomore Jack Evans tied for 12th with 157s. Danny Olson, another Warrior freshman, placed 25th with a 161 and seventh grader Erik Stoxen placed 34th with a 167.
Team scores: 1-Moorhead 314-292 - 606, 2-Brainerd 306-309 - 615, 3-Buffalo 320-310 - 630, 4-Alexandria 324-307 - 631, 5t-Bemidji 330-309 - 639, 5t-Willmar 331-308 - 639
Individual medalist: Levi Hauser (Willmar) 76-70 - 146, Matt Gregg (Bemidji) 77-69 - 146
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Brainerd results: 6-Gavin Metz 77-74 151, 7t-Joe Foley 75-78 - 153, 12t-Andrew Muesing 77-80 - 157, 12t-Jack Evans 80-77 - 157, 25-Danny Olson 77-84 -161, 34-Erik Stoxen 83-84 - 167
Next: Class 3A state tournament at Bunker Hills, Coon Rapids, June 14-15.
