Smith's 68 Has Detroit Lakes on Verge of Fourth Consecutive Class AA Title

By Nick Hunter
nhunter@mngolf.org


  JORDAN, Minn. – The Detroit Lakes girls golf team comes into the 2015 Minnesota State High School Girls Class AA Tournament winning three consecutive titles, but it seemed a formidable task to make it four to start the season as the Lakers graduated four players from last year’s state championship team.

Head coach Cali Harrier has retooled her squad, and after shooting a team score of 312 Tuesday, the Lakers sit atop the leaderboard yet again, taking a seven-stroke lead over Red Wing into the final round Wednesday.

“We had six solid girls that played on our [junior varsity] team last season and I knew they were ready for the challenge. They came in strong and we won our first meet right away. They’ve been back and forth, but they’ve been working really hard to be ready for this moment,” Harrier said after the opening round Tuesday.

“I know they all have solid games. We always tell them to do the best they can and good things will happen. They’ve put the time in and they know this course well. I’m very proud of them today—it was a tough day for all of the girls. They grinded at the end and came in solid,” Harrier said.

The Lakers have been led by junior Kate Smith all season long as Smith broke three course records this year, including a 64 at Low Bow Golf Club in Walker, Minn. during the 8AA Section Championship a week ago.

The three-time defending champion Smith opened with three birdies over the first four holes to quickly drop to 3-under before she holed out for eagle at the par-4 eighth hole.

Smith rolled in a massive birdie putt from the fringe at the ninth to make the turn at 6-under par 30. Smith rolled in her fifth birdie of the round at the 10th to move to 7-under before making three bogeys over the next four holes to fall back to 4-under.

Smith would finish with a pair of pars to shoot 4-under par 68 to share the lead, just 18 holes away from her fourth state title.

“That’s the best front nine I’ve ever had,” Smith said Tuesday. “The back was kind of rough for me and I lost a little confidence in my putter. I hit the ball pretty well today but I feel like I left some to get out there tomorrow.”

Prior to this season, Smith said she felt like a ‘little sister’ to her older teammates but has been thrust into a leadership role this year, something she’s stepped into seemingly unfazed.

“We’ve been slowly progressing during the season and we have a different group of girls. I think a lot of the girls look up to me, which is a lot of responsibility, but I take it in stride and it’s an honor when they come to with questions,” she said.

“We’re having a lot of fun and it’s fun to watch them here and see the joy in their eyes, being here for the first time. If we pull together I think we really have a chance,” Smith said.

Senior Sydney Busker also contributed for the Lakers Tuesday as Busker carded a 1-over par 73. She opened with a 1-over par 37 on the front and answered with an even par 36 over the final nine holes to sit in a tie for third.

Minnewaska senior Jenna Janu also carded a 4-under par 68 Tuesday and will begin the final round with a share of the lead.

Janu rattled off nine consecutive pars to open the tournament Tuesday, before heating up the back nine on an already steamy afternoon.

Back-to-back birdies to open the back nine put Janu into red numbers for her round and after an eagle at the par-5 16th she jumped to 4-under for the round. She dropped a shot at the 17th with a bogey, but rebounded with a birdie on the final hole to shoot 68.

“I didn’t hit the ball very well on the front nine but I was putting well,” Janu said after her round Tuesday. “I knew the back is easier to score on than the front and after I birdied 10 and 11, I knew I could post a good score.

“I’m just here to have fun, I love coming and playing here,” she said. “I can’t complain about anything this year, I probably had one of the best seasons of my career. Tomorrow I’m just going to go out and play. Kate [Smith] is a good player, so whatever happens—will happen.”

St. Croix Lutheran’s Emma Groom carded a 1-over par 73 Tuesday to share third place with Busker, while four players sit tied for fifth at 76.

The final round of the 2015 Minnesota State High School Girls Class AA Championship concludes Wednesday with tee times beginning at noon at Ridges at Sand Creek.



2015 MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS CLASS AA CHAMPIONSHIP
RIDGES AT SAND CREEK
JORDAN, MINN.
5,468 YARDS, PAR 72


TUESDAY’S TEAM RESULTS
1. Detroit Lakes – 312
2. Red Wing – 319
T3. Pequot Lakes – 325
T3. Minnewaska – 325
5. Breck – 338
6. St. Cloud Cathedral – 366
7. Blake School – 376
8. Albert Lea – 380


TUESDAY’S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
T1. Kate Smith, Detroit Lakes, 30-38—68
T1. Jenna Janu, Minnewaska, 36-32—68
T3. Sydney Busker, Detroit Lakes, 37-36—73
T3. Emma Groom, St. Croix Lutheran, 37-36—73
T5. Maggie Heggerston, Pequot Lakes, 37-39—76
T5. Stephanie Herzog, Red Wing, 37-39—76
T5. Anni Heck, Visitation, 38-38-76
T5. Lexi Geolat, Lake City, 37-39—76
T9. Ashlyn Guggisberg, Minnewaska, 37-41—78
T9. Marja Sorenson, Rocori, 37-41—78
T9. Alayna Eldred, Osakis, 38-40—78


For complete tournament results go to: www.mshsl.org/mshsl/golfscores.asp?gender=Girls&class=AA