SARTELL — Pequot Lakes will return to the Class 2A state tournament after winning the Section 6-2A title, Monday, June 7, with a two-day 726 at Blackberry Ridge Golf Club.
Maddie Pederson led the Patriots with matching rounds of 86s for a two-day 172 which placed her third. Morgan Krieger placed fourth with a 177. Annie Neva shot a 183 for eighth place and Genevieve Birkeland placed 14th with a 194 as the Patriots won by 19 strokes to advance to state for the first time since 2015.
“Going into the first day there were a little bit of nerves,” Pequot head coach Savannah Smith said. “I have such a young team so for a lot of them, it was the first time going to an event like that. I think coming into the second day, we were a little calmer and we were sitting in a good spot. We knew we had to perform, obviously, but we just played our game.”
Pederson’s second round featured an eagle on the 405-yard par 5 12th hole as the senior fired a back nine 40.
“For her, she started peaking at the right time this year,” Smith said. “Just in the last couple of weeks she figured out the game a little bit more and her swing started feeling a lot better for her. It all came together, which was really important for a captain and a senior to have this experience to end her high school career.”
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Adriana Dickey placed second individually with a two-day 170 to advance to state with Staples-Motley Cardinals teammates Ava Schneider, who placed sixth with a 180.
Dickey shot matching nines of 43s to finish a stroke behind section champion Abby Thelen of Albany.
“Both girls played very well under the circumstances,” S-M head coach Glen Hasselberg said. “Two get two girls out knowing full well we had no chance of going as a team. But the fact we got to play a second day was huge for the kids that will be returning.
“For Ava to make it as a senior, she had a nice round. I know Adriana was disappointed in finishing second. Her sights were to be a section champion. Champion or second, you’re still both going to state.”
Pierz’s Emily Virnig is also headed to state as she finished seventh individually with her two-day 182.
The top team and the top five individuals not on that team advanced to the Class 2A State Tournament June 15-16 at the Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan.
“Just coming into this whole season after a year of COVID-19, we didn’t really have a lot of expectations,” Smith said. “I think that was a good thing because we were just out there playing golf and seeing what happens. Just going to the state tournament this year is going to be a great experience. Most of these girls will be coming back so we’ll have a few years to bring that experience back.”
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Team scores: 1-Pequot Lakes 367-359 -- 726, 2-Albany 378-367 -- 745, 3-Staples-Motley 386-377 -- 763, 4-St. Cloud Cathedral 400-409 -- 809
Section champion: Abby Thelen (Albany) 169
Pequot Lakes results: 3-Maddie Pederson 86-86 -- 172, 4-Morgan Krieger 88-89 -- 177, 8-Annie Neva 92-91 -- 183, 14-Genevieve Birkeland 101-93 -- 194, 25-Charlee Sullivan 104-104 -- 208
Pierz results: 7-Emily Virnig 87-95 -- 182, 19-Ellie Fischer 90-106 -- 196
Staples-Motley results: 2-Adriana Dickey 84-86 -- 170, 6-Ava Schneider 91-89 -- 180, 16-Mallory Uselman 102-93 -- 195, 29-Walker Johnson 109-109 -- 218, 30-Kenzie Erickson 109-115 -- 224
Next: Class 2A State Tournament at Ridges at Sand Creek, Jordan, June 15-16.
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PERHAM — Hannah Barchus finds herself in 12th place after the opening round of the Section 5-1A tournament Monday, June 7, at Perham Lakeside Golf Club.
The Pine River-Backus sophomore is just four strokes off the cutline to advance to the Class 1A state tournament next week. Barchus fired a 107 Monday. Teammate Cate Travis is two shots behind her with a 109 that has her in 14th place.
Team scores: 1-Park Christian 360, 2-Ottertail Central 425, 3-West Central 558
First-round leader: Emily Strueland (Park Christian) 78
Pine River-Backus results: 12-Hannah Barchus 107, 14-Cate Travis 109, 21-Kassidy Bristow 124
Next: Final round of the Section 5-1A Tournament at Perham Lakeside Golf Club Tuesday.
