PREP GOLF: Rebel boys shoot a 333 to win Section 3A by 5 strokes

MARSHALL — The Cinderella story that is the Murray County Central boys’ golf team continues to roll into the state tournament. After not having a program in 36 years, the Rebels punched their ticket to state, shooting a 333 at the Section 3A championship Wednesday in Marshall.

Grant Everson led the way for MCC, shooting an 81, which was good enough for third overall. Ben Loosbrock, Devin Ryan and Adam Christensen were not far behind Everson, notching 84s to help pace the Rebels.

“They kept the ball in play and didn’t have too many mistakes,” MCC assistant coach Ryan Tjeerdsma said. “Our short game has carried us through very well.

“I told the kids to not be satisfied and this is just the beginning. We are approaching the state tournament the same way that we approached this tournament. We are showing up with the intention that if we play well we are going to win.”

Russell-Tyler-Ruthton ended up taking second place with an overall score of 338.

Sprinfield ended up taking third place by shooting a 358.

And finally, Westbrook-Walnut Grove shot a 365 to take fourth place on the day. Dana Madson earned a trip to state with an 82 to lead W-WG, while Taylor Lindaman shot a 91, Reed Bakken chipped in a 98 and Aaron Hass added a 101 for W-WG.

“We didn’t put our best foot forward today,” W-WG coach Carter Ross said. “We knew we were going to have to give our best to beat the teams that were here, and we did not play our best.”

Five individual boys also qualified for a shot at the state championship.

Monte DeKam, of Southwest Christian, and Aaron Walzak, of Mt. Lake Christian, tied for first place, each shooting an 80 on the day.

“I played pretty good today except one hole,” Walzak said. “And I’ve played the state championship course before, so I am pretty confident heading into the tournament.”

For DeKam, it was all about hitting the ball straight, which is easier said than done.

“My tee shots were going quite a bit straighter than I usually hit,” DeKam said.

“I was hitting a lot of fairways.

“It feels great to make state. I didn’t really expect it. There are going to be a lot of good golfers there and I’m hoping to just play as well as I can.”

Madson and Nathan Christensen, of R-T-R, ended up in a tie for fourth place, as they both shot an 82, while Fulda’s Todd Peterson took the final qualifying spot with an 83.

“It feels really good,” Peterson said. “I didn’t expect myself to make it into the tournament, but I played like I had nothing to lose.

“I didn’t putt that much because my chipping was so good and that helped to beat the tough greens at Marshall.”

MCC was not the only story of the day, as Hannah Kruger, of R-T-R, shot a 79 on the day to beat every golfer, including the boys.

“I shot a 79, I was really happy with that,” Kruger said. “Basically everything was working out there for me. I was dropping putts left and right.”

Lincoln High ended up taking first with an overall score of 359 on the day in the girls’ division.

The Fulda girls ended up coming in second with a score of 390. Tessa Kramer led the way for the Raiders, shooting a 90, while Brittany Leinen notched a 97, Sarah Strenge hit a 101 and Madeline Westra added a 102.

“The pin placements were tough today,” said Fulda head coach Loren Carlson. “Any time you shoot below 400 on this course, it is a decent score.”

The girls from Wabasso ended up coming in third with an overall score of 395.

And finally, the MCC girls ended up in fourth with an overall score of 411 behind Hannah Davis’ 97, Liz Prahm’s 103, Haleigh Clarke’s 104 and Chelsey Jurrens’ 107.

“They played well,” said MCC head coach Kim DeLong. “They’re a young team and we only lose one senior going into next year.

“I am extremely proud of the MCC boys and girls teams. They both have had a successful year. The girls went from being last in the conference meet last year to runner-up this year at both the conference and sub-section meets.”

Five individual girls will also be moving on to the state championship.

The first spot was taken by Kruger.

There was a tie for second place overall between Emaleigh Vreeman, of Southwest Christian, and Lincoln High’s Kyra Gores, who each shot an 85 on the day.

Apparently no one informed Vreeman that second place is a solid showing.

“I played horrible today,” Vreeman said. “I managed to make my shots out of the tree work for me.

“I don’t think I hit three or four fairways all day.”

The good news is Vreeman has a backup plan for when everything seemingly goes wrong.

“I figured out my tree shots well enough,” Vreeman said. “My chipping is probably what saved me.

“These next two weeks I need to figure out how to get some confidence back in my swing and learn to hit a straight ball again.”

Westbrook-Walnut Grove’s Abby Herding and Fulda’s Tessa Kramer also had state qualifying rounds with scores of 89 and 90, respectively.

“I started off kind of iffy,” Kramer said. “I was kind of worried, but then it started going better.

“I just kept strong and kept my attitude up. I knew I couldn’t play well if I got mad at myself and I really wanted to go to state.”

The Class A state tournament for boys and girls golf will be held June 12 and 13 at Pebble Creek Golf Club in Becker.

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