Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor

What a finish the girls golf team had at the Class AA State Tournament last week at Bunker Hills. The Rangers shaved 19 strokes off their team score and moved up from seventh place after Day 1, and into fifth place at the end of the tourney.

The competition in Coon Rapids began on Tuesday, June 5, and the girls were unable to match their brilliant Memorial Day effort from sections.

Coming in with a first round score of 365, Forest Lake was 20 shots from first place Burnsville, but only two strokes from passing Buffalo and then tying Red Wing.

Betsy Kelly was the top Ranger at 77, but then there was a noticeable void as no one else from Forest Lake could even break into the 80s. Emily Wislicenus shot 93, Nicole Tetrault a 95, and both Katie Nowicki and Laurel Pelton came in at an even 100. Mallory Messin was close behind with a 101.

“We had some jitters and it showed,” head coach Joel Hall said. “The girls were a little bummed at first, but on the ride home they started giving me the scenarios that would result in us even winning, and it was good to see them that optimistic.”

That optimism was rewarded, because even though the conditions worsened on Wednesday afternoon, the girls played much better. The previous day’s round of 365 was gone with the wind as the Rangers were on their way to a second day total of 346. Only Burnsville at 344 turned in a lower score, propelling Forest Lake up to the fifth position with a tournament total of 711.

Thank goodness for the stunning improvement on the second day, but what could have happened with a “normal” first round?

“We left knowing that if we put two days together like that, we would have been in contention to win the tournament,” Hall noted, “which was not a bad feeling considering five of the six girls will be back next year, although the captain (Tetrault) is not someone who is easily replaced.”

When the tournament ended, Kelly’s 80 would put her at 157 and in a three-way tie for third place overall. For the third consecutive year, Samantha Sommers (147) of St. Cloud Apollo won Class AA.

Coming in for Forest Lake were Wislicenus with a 92 (185, 49th); Messin lowering her score by 15 strokes with an 85 (186, 52nd)); and Pelton dropping to an 89 (189, 61st).

Tetrault would end her high school career with a 100 (195, 66th), and Nowicki shot a 113 (213, 82nd).

“The second day was infinitely better,” Hall said. “They took nearly 20 (shots) off, and Mallory was a big catalyst.”

Seeing Burnsville (689) win the team title was almost expected, and they were followed by Alexandria (702), Wayzata and Woodbury, who both shot 708.

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