Posted: 6/11/03

Swanson and Brink give it their all at state

Joe Drennan
Sports Editor
Going into Wednesdayís final round at the 2003 Minnesota State High School League AA Girls Golf Championship, Krista Swanson of Forest Lake was in a three-way tie for first place after shooting a 78 on the first day, and teammate Christie Brink was in 58th place after shooting a 91.
When all was said and done, Swanson finished fourth overall with a two day score of 160 (78-82) and Brink moved up to 55th with a score of 182 (91-91).
As day 2 of the championship got underway at 11:30 a.m., it looked as though it would be canceled due to weather. Shortly after the first group of girls teed off, a foursome that included Brink, the horns sounded signaling golfers to clear the course because inclement weather was moving in.
After a short 15 minute rain delay, golfers were preparing to resume play when the lightning came and another weather delay was put in place. As 2:00 p.m. neared and the weather was not cooperating, there was some fear that day 2 of the championship would be canceled.
The problem was that if the rain and lightning continued any longer than it did, the last foursome of the day would tee-off after 3:00 p.m. If the last group was to tee-off that late, there was a good chance they would not be able to finish their 18 hole round of golf before darkness fell.
Coaches gathered and talked things over as they looked at the weather report. The decision was to resume play while the rain and lightning had ceased and hope that it did not start up again, allowing everyone to finish while it was still light out.

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Forest Lake golf coach Bill Loushine said, ìWe all wanted to play.î
Once play resumed, Brink continued where she left off on the second hole, hoping to move up from 58th.
Matching her score from the day before with a 91, she moved up 3 spots to finish 55th.
Brinkís 55th finish was slightly better than her 2001 finish at the state championship when she finished 60th after shooting a two-day total of 191.
Brinkís teammate Swanson was competing in her 6th consecutive state tournament.
ìItís been a long time playing in this tournament,î Swanson said. ìIím pretty happy I was able to keep steady and improve over the years.î
Swanson fist competed in the state championship way back in the 1990ís, 1998 to be exact where she finished 30th. In 1999 she finished 13th when the second day was rained out. Swanson broke the top ten when she finished 10th in 2000, and moved up to 7th in the state in 2001. Last year was Swansonís best finish when she finished 3rd after shooting a 158 over two days.
ìThis was the accumulation of a great career,î Loushine said of Swanson.
After day one, Swanson was in a 3-way tie for first after shooting a 78 on the par 72 course.
Going into Wednesdayís final round, Swanson said she was, ìFeeling good during warmups and at (her original) t-time, but the rain delay didnít help.î
Swanson was looking good after the front nine of the day where she shot a 40. On the back nine she stayed consistent and shot a 42 for a total of 82 on the day for a two day total of 160.
ìI wasnít very impressed, it was a very average day for me,î Swanson said.
Lauren Huhnerkoch of Burnsville won the state title with a two day total of 157.
The girls team from Red Wing won its third consecutive state title with a score of 671, finishing 23 strokes ahead of second place Woodburry.

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