It’s the second time around for three Brainerd Warriors girls and one Warrior boy at the Class 3A State Golf Tournament June 15-16 at Bunker Hills In Coon Rapids.
Erik Stoxen will represent the Warrior boys in his second trip to state and first since his freshman year. The Brainerd senior placed fourth in the Section 8-3A Tournament at Rich-Springs Golf Club to make his return to state.
“I think Bunker Hills fits his game pretty well because he knows the course,” Warriors head boys coach Brian Wallace said. “He knows how to get around the course and he’s just so good with his irons that it sets up for him really nicely.
“The fun thing about him is he can get on a string and get that confidence going and roll in a bunch of birdies in a row. He also knows that if he doesn’t do so well on a few holes he can bring it back because he’s capable of making those birdies. Now with the putter working really well for him hopefully all those pieces will come together for him next week.”
As a freshman, Stoxen came out firing even par in his opening round. He eventually tied for 25th with a 79 on Day Two for a 151.
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That year, Stoxen was playing with former teammates Jack Evans and Gavin Metz. This year he’s the lone Warrior in the field.
“We’ve talked about that,” Wallace said. “He’s excited to go back because he has played in it before. He is looking back on his state experience from a few years ago and he’s really excited to get back and give it another shot.”
While the Section 8-3A tournament didn’t produce a return trip for the entire Brainerd Warriors girls team, it will send half the team.
Senior Anna Krieger, Junior Katie Foley and sophomore Izzy Olson will represent the Warriors in the two-day event.
Krieger tied for 44th in her first state tournament two years ago. She shot a two-day 171. She just tied for second in the Girls Senior Showcase at Albion Ridges Golf Course in Annandale with a round of 80 Thursday, June 10.
“If she can get some putts to drop early in her round she’ll be good because she really hits the ball well,” Warrior head girls golf coach Todd Person said. “She will have a few 3- or 4-footers that don’t go down early in the round and that’s a tough thing with confidence.”
Foley tied for 48th with a two-day 173 two years ago. The junior bounced back from an opening-round 82 to fire a 75 in the final round of the Section 8-3A tournament and placed fifth individually.
Foley and Olson tied for second a week earlier at the Tri-State Tournament held at the very course the three will be playing Tuesday and Wednesday.
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“Katie has a work ethic like no one else and she’s using her time off from school to figure out everything she can do to be ready,” Person said. “Her dad (PGA professional Chris Foley) will have her in tip-top shape.
“I think it was really beneficial for all of the girls to be able to go down and play in that tri-state preview that we played in. Katie that second day, shot that 75. I think the girls will have good feelings on how they played that second day at Bunker Hills. That should give them some momentum going into that first round.”
Izzy Olson led after the opening round of the section tournament with a 2-under 70. She followed it with an 82 to finish third individually.
“She’s worked real hard on her game with (PGA professional) Ryan Sharpe,” Person said. “Ryan has been able to spend some time with her on the course during some of these rounds and it’s really been a difference-maker for Izzy.
“His ability to calm her on the course when things go wrong has helped. She continues to get better at dealing with the game’s misfortunate when they happen. It shows how she’s played lately.”
Olson finished 52nd at state as an eighth grader. She shot a two-day 176.
“I hope they go and have fun,” Person said. “I hope they are relaxed and let all the pressure go and just enjoy the two days. Hopefully, they’ll go and shoot what they are capable of shooting.”
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JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at 218-855-5856 or jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jeremymillsop.
Class 3A State Golf
Boys: Brainerd senior Erik Stoxen
Girls: Brainerd senior Anna Krieger, junior Katie Foley, sophomore Izzy Olson
When: girls 7:30 a.m. tee time June 15-16; Boys noon tee time June 15-16
Where: Bunker Hills Golf Club, Coon Rapids
