The Minnewaska Area boys golf team opened up the conference schedule with a first-place finish in a WCC meet at West Central Area last Tuesday night.

The golfers only golfed at WCA that day because the Morris course was unplayable.

The Lakers also competed at the Wildcat/Cardinal Invitational, Friday and Saturday, but only Friday’s scores were available to the Pope County Tribune before deadline.

This week, the boys golf team is set to golf in a WCC doubleheader at Melrose and Sauk Centre, Tuesday (tomorrow) before getting ready for the Fairmont Invitational, Saturday, May 6.

The boys golf team is coached this spring by Dave Drexler, while the girls team is coached by Tony Janu.  Assistants this year for golf are Dion Harste (boys), Sarah Iverson (girls) and Brett Thorfinnson (junior high).

WCC meet at WCA

The Lakers earned the team title by one stroke at the opening WCC meet at WCA last Tuesday night.  The Lakers had three of the top six golfers on the way to a team score of 313, which was one stroke better than the host WCA team.

The Knights had the second and fourth-top golfers during the meet, but the Lakers’ overall depth prevailed.

Minnewaska Area senior Riley Larson, fresh off a state berth from a season ago, shot a blistering 68 to win medalist honors by three strokes over Mitchell Dewey of WCA.

Thatcher Sherlin and Zach Gugisberg tied for fifth overall for the Lakers with scores of 77, while Garrett Jungclaus came through with a strong fourth score for the Lakers with a 91, which ultimately helped his team win the team title by one stroke.

Also golfing for the Lakers were Chase Wacker (92), Blake Nelson (94) and Bode Dezelar (95).

at Wild-Card Invitational

After the first day of the Wild-Card Invitational, the Lakers were in 10th place out of 17 teams with a 346 total.

St. Cloud Cathedral leads the field with a round of 312, while Willmar is one stroke behind and Brainerd and Sartell are tied for third six strokes back.

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 and Blake Nelson added a 94.  The golfers were set to play another 18 holes at Willmar, Saturday.  Results will be published next week.

WCC meet at WCA

Boys team scoring:  

(1) Minnewaska 313  (2) WCA 314  (3) Melrose 342  (4) Morris 359  (5) Benson 362  (6) Montevideo 365  (7) BOLD 376  (8) Sauk Centre 377

Boys top five:  

(1) tie, Riley Larson, Min 68  (2) Mitchell Dewey, WCA 71  (3) Charlie Hanson, Morris 72  (4) Marshall Dewey, WCA 76  (5) Thatcher Sherlin, Min and Zach Gugisberg, Min, both 77s

Minnewaska results:  (1) Riley Larson 68  (5) Thatcher Sherlin 77  (5) Zach Gugisberg 77  (22) Garrett Jungclaus 91, Chase Wacker 92, Blake Nelson 94, Bode Dezelar 95