The Minnewaska Area girls golf team dominated the Section 3AA Golf Prelims last Wednesday at Oakdale Golf Club in Buffalo Lake, shooting a team score of 333 to win by 59 strokes.

That gives the Lakers a big cushion going into the Section 3AA Finals, set for Wednesday, May 29 at the same course.

The top five teams and top golfers from the Prelims advance to this week’s Finals where the top team and top five golfers from the others teams will all earn state berths.

The State Girls Golf Tourney is set for June 11-12.  Last year, junior Arivia DeBoer and sophomore Ava Kollman both earned state berths.

They are hoping to be joined by the entire team this year.

Section 3AA Prelims

Minnewaska Area had a 333 score to win the Section 3AA Prelims last Wednesday, averaging about 83 strokes per golfer.

Redwood Valley, which earned the team title last year, is next with a 392 total, while rounding out the top five were NLS (396), Fairmont (404) and Marshall (407).

Those five teams will be back at the Oakdale Golf Club this week for the final 18 holes.

Redwood Valley’s Mila Jenniges and Kimball’s Avery Naus tied for medalist honors with rounds of 78, while Ava Kollman led the Lakers with a score of 79 to place third.

Arivia DeBoer was next in fourth with an 82, while Annika DeBoer carded an 84 to place fifth and Kyra Nelson came through with the Lakers’ fourth score of 88 to earn seventh.

Also golfing for the Lakers were Anna Kollman in 17th (96) and Lillie Ogdahl in 34th (106).

Last year, Redwood Valley shot a first-day total of 334 to lead by eight strokes over the Lakers.  Redwood Valley went on to earn the section team title by 30 strokes and also had the top two medalists, one of whom has graduated.

Section 3AA Prelims

Girls team scoring:  

(1) Minnewaska 333  (2) Redwood Valley 392  (3) NLS 396  (4) Fairmont 404  (5) Marshall 407 . . . (6) Kimball and Litchfield, both 413  (8) Luverne 420  (9) MN Valley Luth 428  (10) Paynesville 431  (11) Morris Area-CA 441  (12) New Ulm 442  (13) Montevideo 490  (14) Pipestone, Windom, Jackson County Central, all incomplete

Girls top five:  

(1) tie, Mila Jenniges, RV and Avery Naus, Kimball, both 78  (3) Ava Kollman, Min 79  (4) Arivia DeBoer, Min 82  (5) Annika DeBoer, Min 84

Minnewaska results:  (3) Ava Kollman 79  (4) Arivia DeBoer 82  (5) Annika DeBoer 84  (7) Kyra Nelson 88  (17) Anna Kollman 96  (34) Lillie Ogdahl 106