PEQUOT LAKES-If grouping was a thing, then the Brainerd Warriors would be all-stars.
All six Brainerd scores were within nine strokes of each other during Wednesday's opening round of the Section 8-3A tournament at The Preserve at Grand View Lodge.
Led by Maren Pelowski's 90, Brainerd rattled off a 91 from Julia Wallace, 95s from Abby Pohlkamp and Alexis Menghini, 96 from Katie Foley and 99 from Maggie Mattson.
Those scores propelled the Warriors to a fifth-place 371. That was two strokes behind Bemidji, which was the goal for the Warriors.
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Section 8-3A
- Individual highlight: Maren Pelowski shot 90 for the Warriors
- Team highlight: Brainerd sits fifth
- Next: Brainerd in Section 8-3A final round at The Preserve at Grand View Lodge, Pequot Lakes 9 a.m. Thursday
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"I was expecting that we would have putted a little better than we did today," said Warrior head coach Todd Person. "But it wasn't just our girls. The greens were a little bit slower this afternoon than they were this morning, which was good, but they were still quick and there are so many big breaks and shelves that give the kids some difficulties out there. I was hoping that we would putt a little better than we did today, just considering all the time we've spent on this course."
Buffalo secured the opening-round lead with a 331, led by first-round leader Hanna Morin's 76. Alexandria shot a second-place 348 with Bridget Amundson's 78 leading the Cardinals. Sartell placed third. Willmar was the sixth and final team to advance to Thursday's final round.
Pelowski fired a front nine 42 that included a birdie 2 on the par 3 second hole. She fired a back nine 48 for her second good score at the Preserve.
"Maren has a lot of clubhead speed," said Person. "She hits the ball a long way and also has good touch around the greens and is a good putter. That's what this course separates out-those kids that can read the green and get those lag putts close and minimize the three putts. She's good at that."
Wallace was a stroke back despite a front nine 48. She also birdied the second hole but struggled with her putter the rest of the front nine. A birdie on the par 4 10th hole helped the senior to a back-nine 43.
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"I know Julia was disappointed with how things went, especially on the front nine with her putting, but it was good to see her come back on the back nine and get her putting straightened out a little bit," Person said. "That will be good for her going into (Thursday) knowing what she needs to do."
Abby Pohlkamp and Alexis Menghini swapped nine hole scores to post matching 95s. Katie Foley rebounded from a front nine 50 to shoot 46 on the back during her first section tournament appearance.
"Alexis and Abby, two sophomores, came in and played really well," Person said. "Alexis beat everybody in her group and Abby beat everybody in her group, with the exception of the Buffalo girl, and that's where we need to be in the next couple of years. Those girls need to do that so that was good to see.
"Katie turned around and started playing bogey golf on the back nine and came in with a 96, which is great. We're excited to be getting her this experience in this situation and format. The next couple of years, as she continues to mature, she'll know what this is like."
Person said he hopes to see continued improvement on Wednesday's scores. Brainerd will be paired with Willmar and the 12 individuals that advanced. The top team and top five individuals not on that team will advance to the Class 3A state tournament.
Team scores: 1-Buffalo 331, 2-Alexandria 348, 3-Sartell 366, 4-Bemidji 369, 5-Brainerd 371, 6-Willmar 395, 7-Moorhead 411, 8-Monticello 427, 9-Big Lake 424, 10-St. Cloud Tech 429,11-Sauk Rapids 520, 12-St. Cloud Apollo inc.
First-round leader: Hanna Morin (Buf) 76
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Brainerd results: Julia Wallace 91, Maggie Mattson 99, Abby Pohlkamp 95, Alexis Menghini 95, Katie Foley 96, Maren Pelowski 90
Teams advancing to Thursday: Buffalo, Alexandria, Sartell, Bemidji, Brainerd, Willmar.
