WORTHINGTON - Anneke Weg’s nine-hole total of 43 strokes was more than enough to help the Worthington Trojans girls golf team to a slim 200-204 victory over Minneota Tuesday at the Worthington Country Club.
Weg’s medalist score was five strokes better than the next-lowest girls score. She was three over par after six holes, and despite the fact that she double bogeyed the last three, WHS coach Ben DeRynck was more than impressed.
“She could have been in the 30s,” DeRynck said.
In the first meet of the spring season for the Trojans, the home-town boys dominated visiting Minneota 169-213. Tyler Van Hove and Ben Koepsell each carded medalist rounds of 40 strokes on a cool, overcast afternoon.
Boys
Van Hove’s score might have been better, too.
“I lipped out about four or five times today,” he said after sinking a 12-foot putt for par and walking off the 18th green.
“My wedge shots were on the green. Once I got on, I kind of struggled on the green,” he said.
Koepsell, who was in the same foursome as Van Hove, also pronounced himself inconsistent. “I didn’t think I played great. Didn’t get off the tee real great. I had a birdie on three, which helped me,” he said. “Chipping and putting hurt. I left about four or five putts two or three feet short of the hole, which should have gone in.”
The Worthington boys team, which qualified for the state Class AA tournament last year, still managed a solid victory in its first outing of 2016. Jacob Prunty carded a 42 and Antonio Garcia got in the scoring column with a 47. Zach Boever and Nathoe Vorasane rounded out the Trojan boys’ scoring with a 48 and 49, respectively.
Two WHS B squadders turned in fine rounds. Preston Anderson had a 47 and Lance Hibma a 49.
Ryan Twedt led Minneota with 48 strokes. Nolan Boerboom had 49, Matt Myhre 57 and Kolin Drietz 59.
Girls
The 200 team score is a good starting point for the WHS girls, said DeRynck.
“Two hundred was always a goal last year in dual meets. I don’t want to be overzealous, but I think we can shoot in the 180s consistently.”
The win was uniquely special for DeRynck as it came against his old high school golf coach, Ralph Hagen.
While Weg was setting herself apart on Tuesday, teammate Rachel Koller turned in a score of 50 to tie for third place overall. Kelicy Anderson scored a 53, Ashley Hoefker a 54, Anneke’s younger sister Bailey Weg a 58 and McKenna Prunty a 62.
Heidi Guttormsson had a 48 to lead the Minneota girls. Rachel Knutson carded a 50, Nicole Evers a 51 and Allison Bot a 55.
