Fitzmorris and Heinrich Named Ms. and Mr. Minnesota Golf

Competing at the varsity level is a challenge in and of itself for many high school athletes for a number of reasons. Intense performance and training schedules paired with demanding academic expectations certainly require an acute understanding of time management, all the while trying to maintain a healthy social and family life.

Prior Lake golfer Jake Heinrich experienced the joy of earning a spot on the roster as a freshman, but the start of his sophomore season was met with a devastating loss as the Lakers’ coach Brad Bulver succumbed to his battle with ALS at the age of 54.

“The next year was really tough playing through that,” Heinrich said Sunday. “I put a lot of pressure on myself trying to play for him. If I played bad, I was mad at myself because I thought he’d be disappointed in me.”

Playing under John Hafdal for the past three seasons, Heinrich earned a spot in the Class AAA state tournament for the first time to close out his senior season, and on Sunday was named Mr. Minnesota Golf in a ceremony at Windsong Farm Golf Club.

“I was shaking a bit and a little nervous, but I just thought of [Bulver], and I knew he’d be proud,” Heinrich said after his named was announced. “I compete with such a great group of golfers in Minnesota, and I think we’re very underrated. I would’ve been happy either way, but it’s quite the honor.”

Heinrich tallied a scoring average of 71.8 across 12 rounds during his senior season, finishing inside the top-5 in five of his final six events.

He fired a 69 to claim medalist honors at the Prior Lake Dual at The Wilds Golf Club in April and tied his season-low with a final-round 69 at the Section 6AAA Championship to earn co-medalist honors with Benilde-St. Margaret’s Cade Callan at 4-under 140.

“First opportunity to play at state this week—I’m pumped,” he said. “It’s been my biggest challenge, so being able to overcome that is huge. This is really a plus, but the confidence is there and I think I have a great chance.”  

During each of his four seasons as a varsity golfer, Heinrich’s scoring average improved by more than two strokes each year, down nearly 10 strokes from his freshman season.

“I hadn’t had the best high school career—I had a lot of ups and downs,” he said. “This year, I was just trying to maintain my swing throughout the year. My highest round was a 74 and my lowest was 69, but really consistent and steady golf this year, which is new for me.”

Heinrich will begin his collegiate career at the University of South Carolina-Beaufort this fall.

“I’m looking forward to meeting new people,” Heinrich said. “A lot of diversity—I’m the only American coming in. My roommates are from Bangkok, France and London, so that’s going to be a lot of fun.”

The Minnesota State High School League Class AAA Championship begins Tuesday at Bunker Hills Golf Club.

Capping off her senior season with the state’s best stroke average by nearly three shots, Hill-Murray’s Emma Fitzmorris was crowned Ms. Minnesota Golf Sunday, becoming just the third golfer from Class AA to earn the distinction.

“I didn’t really know what to expect—being [ranked No. 1] in the state, I knew I had a pretty good chance, but you never know,” Fitzmorris said Sunday. “I’ve had so much fun with our team this season. Our nine-hole average last year is our 18-hole average this year, and I also didn’t play last year, so it was so much fun to come back this year.”

In seven events this season, Fitzmorris claimed medalist honors on five occasions and finished runner-up twice, posting a scoring average of 70.8 across eight rounds.

She carded a season-low 66 to win the Metro East Conference Championship at Highland National Golf Course by five strokes before she matched her season low during the final round of the Section 4AA Championship, cruising to an eight-stroke victory.

As a freshman, Fitzmorris finished 17th at the Class AA season finale at Ridge at Sand Creek and followed it by placing 38th during her sophomore season. After sitting out her junior season due to recruiting restrictions, Fitzmorris will have one last opportunity when the MSHSL Class AA Championship gets underway Tuesday.

Fitzmorris will be joined by fellow Ms. Minnesota Golf finalist Lauren Chambs (Wayzata High School) in Fargo, N.D., this fall when the two begin their freshman seasons playing for the Bison at North Dakota State University.

“The community there is really amazing and I love the coach,” Fitzmorris said. “I just love everything about the team.”