Minnesota state golf: Groves, Will, Hamman, Benson post solid scores

BECKER -- Playing without his Murray County Central teammates at the Minnesota state Class A golf tournament, said Tyler Groves on Wednesday, was a little weird.

“It was definitely different,” he admitted.

The Rebels’ run of five consecutive boys team appearances ended this year, but Groves certainly kept up his part of the bargain. On Wednesday, the junior standout carded an 80 (37-43) at the Pebble Creek Golf Club in Becker, finishing with a two-day 167 total. That was good enough to place the Section 3A medalist in a tie for 23rd place overall. He carded a 40-47 -- 87 on Tuesday.

“It was hot and muggy, but it was also windy today,” Groves told The Globe in a phone call from Becker Wednesday afternoon. “I had to club down just because of the wind -- when it’s hot, you have to club down because the balls fly farther when it’s hotter outside. And then I clubbed up into the wind.

“I played pretty consistent today. I struggled with putting on two of the holes. I also made one birdie today,” Groves said.

On the girls’ side of the tournament, Hallie Will of Windom Area and Abby Hamman of Murray County Central led area golfers, each shooting a 175, which put them in a tie for 15th place in the Class A field. Will shot an 86 on Wednesday and Hamman shot a 93.

Jackson County Central senior Abby Benson tied for 17th place in Class AA with a 167, having compiled an 86 on Wednesday at Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan.

Groves’ Murray County Central teammate Jack Pierson finished with a total of 171 strokes for the Class A boys (87 on Tuesday and 84 on Wednesday) to finish in a tie for 35th. Windom Area’s Tylan Porath carded a 178 (tied for 52th) and Adrian’s Mitchell Veld had a 183 (tied for 59th).

Section 3A boys champion Westbrook-Walnut Grove finished eighth in the team standings with a 740. Mahnomen/Waubun won the title with 653 strokes. Lac qui Parle Valley was second with 671, followed by Sleepy Eye United with 673, Mounds Park Academy 677, Ottertail Central 687, Mesabi East 690, Blooming Prairie 697, and W-WG.

Andrew Quade was the top W-WG performer with a 180 (56th). Teammates Anthony Ross had 181, Kyle Kuehl 184, Cole Bunting 198, Jack Jorgenson 198 and Nathan Ross 210.

In team girls Class A play, BOLD prevailed with a score of 693 strokes. Fillmore Central followed with a 697, ahead of Springfield with 701, Park Christian 733, Minneota 745, North Woods 765, Fertile-Beltrami 791 and Windom Area 799.

Windom Area’s Paige Pigman complemented Will’s fine score with a 179 total, placing her 23rd overall. Other Windom Area scores included Lily Melstrom with a 219 (75th), and Sophia Nelson and Allie Ward each with 232 (83rd).

Fulda’s Emily Schroer carded a 217 for 73rd. And Megan Schmitt of Tracy-Milroy-Balaton had a 22 to finish in a tie for 76th.