The Laker boys golf team placed first and second at a pair of WCC meets last Tuesday at Sauk Centre and Melrose.  The Lakers had team totals of 165 in both meets.  

Minnewaska won the meet at Melrose by four strokes over WCA, but Morris won by a tiebreaker at SC after both teams finished with 165 totals.

The Lakers were also set to compete at the Alexandria Invitational, Saturday, but results of that competition were not received by press time.

•  In addition, the Lakers also went on to place 16th at the Wild-Card Invitational, April 28-29.  Minnewaska was in 10th place after the first day, but fell to 16th place after the second day, partly due to two of the top golfers missing the second day due to MAHS Prom.

“It was a good opportunity for some of the Lakers’ younger golfers to get some experience,” coach Dave Drexler said.

Willmar won the meet with a 36-hole total of 630, while Brainerd was second (637) and Sartell was third (640).  

Riley Larson had a 75 on the first day to tie for third overall, while Zach Gugisberg had an 88, Thatcher Sherlin carded an 89, Blake Nelson shot a 94, Chase Wacker came home with a 109 and Jackson Ziesmer shot a 113.

During the second day, Gugisberg had an 81, Sherlin shot a 92, Wacker carded a 114, Carter Huckle shot a 118 and Ziesmer had a 129 total. Nixon Harrier, of NLS, earned medalist honors with a total of 147 on rounds of 73 and 74.

WCC at Melrose-SC

The Lakers golfed in a pair of WCC meet at Melrose and Sauk Centre last Tuesday night.  The Lakers won the team title by four strokes over WCA during the meet at Melrose with a score of 165, but Morris Area-CA won a tiebreaker over Minnewaska Area for the team title at Sauk Centre.

Riley Larson’s 37 was the medalist score at Melrose, while Zach Gugisberg’s 41 was fourth-best overall and Blake Nelson had a 42 to tie for fourth.  Larson had two bogeys, one birdie and six pars during his medalist round, playing against wind gusts up to 25 mph.

Also golfing at Melrose were Thatcher Sherlin (45), Kody Ward (59), Bode Dezelar (67) and Carter Huckle (68).  “I was proud of how our guys kept battling in tough conditions today, both at Meadowlark and Greystone,” coach Dave Drexler said.  “Golf is a game of imperfection; how you deal with adversity when things don’t go your way is key.  In a round of golf, every shot matters.”

•  After a short break, the golfers competed at Sauk Centre.  Morris Area won the team title on a fifth-score tiebreaker after each team finished with a 165 total.

The Tigers’ Charlie Hanson shot a 31 to win medalist honors by six strokes over the Lakers’ Riley Larson.  In what could be a conference boys’ record, Hanson was six under after six holes before going par-bogey-par for his score of 31.  His lone bogey was a lip-out par putt on No. 16.

“Charlie played a great round of golf today,” coach Drexler said.  “He is one of the nicest kids, has a great demeanor and attitude on the golf course, and works hard at his game.”

Larson’s 37 tied for second place, while Blake Nelson and Zach Gugisberg carded 42s to tie for fourth with two other golfers.  Thatcher Sherlin added a 44 for the Lakers, while Carter Huckle shot a 50, Kody Ward came home with a 53 and Bode Dezelar carded a 57.

“I was really proud of how our guys kept grinding and clawing even after they had a tough hole or got a bad break,” coach Drexler said.  “Blake’s round at Greystone is a great example of that; he started with a bogey and a triple but he kept his head up and posted a score that helped the team at the end of the day.”

WCC meet at Melrose

Boys team scoring:  

(1) Minnewaska 165  (2) WCA 169  (3) Morris 175  (4) Melrose 187  (5) Benson 190  (6) Sauk Centre 201  (7) Montevideo 205  (8) BOLD 205

Boys top five:  

(1) Riley Larson, Min 37  (2) Charlie Hanson, Morris 39  (3) Peyton Hanson, WCA 40  (4) Zach Gugisberg, Min 41  (5) tie, Blake Nelson, Min and Mitch Dewey, WCA, both 42

Minnewaska results:  Riley Larson 37, Zach Gugisberg 41, Blake Nelson 42, Thatcher Sherlin 45, Kody Ward 59, Bode Dezelar 67, Carter Huckle 68

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WCC meet at Sauk Centre

Boys team scoring:  

(1) Morris Area 165  (2) Minnewaska 165  (3) WCA 169  (4) Melrose 174  (5) Montevideo 181  (6) Sauk Centre 194  (7) BOLD 195  (8) Benson 197

Boys top five:  

(1) Charlie Hanson, Morris 31  (2) tie, Riley Larson, Min and Marshall Dewey, WCA, both 37  (4) tie, Blake Nelson, Min; Zach Gugisberg, Min; Gavin Arends, Monte; Jayson Nichols, Monte, all 42s

Minnewaska results:  Riley Larson 37, Zach Gugisberg 42, Blake Nelson 42, Thatcher Sherlin 44, Carter Huckle 50, Kody Ward 53, Bode Dezelar 57

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