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Boys golf thrives at early tourneys
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Wednesday, 23 April 2008
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Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor
Based on last year’s finish and who’s back this season, expectations have been building for the Forest Lake boys golf team. Judging by what the Rangers did in their first week of play, those expectations won’t be going anywhere.
Forest Lake took part in three different tournaments, where conditions were never ideal, and came away with a first, a second and a fourth place.
The most recent competition was Friday and Saturday at the rescheduled Tri-State Invitational at the University of Minnesota.
“We were in second place after the first day,” head coach John Buck said of the 24-team field. “We had to play the entire round in the rain and wind, so I was happy with the results.”
Douger Jeans was the low Ranger with a 75, while John Young shot a 76. Jeremy Tetrault followed at 77, Andrew Kelly at 78 and Peter Follese at 81, for a team total of 306.
“The second day we fell two spots to fourth place in the cool, but better conditions,” Buck shared on his team’s overall score of 620.
This time Follese led Forest Lake with a 76 and Jeans turned in a 78. Tetrault was right behind at 79, and both Young and Kelly shot 81.
Mankato West won with a mark of 612, Detroit Lakes totalled 614, and Eden Prairie finished at 616.
The day before golfing at the U of M, the Rangers were one of 28 schools at the Bunker Hills Invite, and ended April 17 as the winning team.
Young tied for second as an individual by shooting 38, 38, 39.
Ryan Hanson came in eighth place with rounds of 38, 39, 40, and Jeans and Follese tied for 12th place.
Those were the four scores that counted, meaning Kelly and Tetrault were not a factor.
“Andrew and Jeremy, who played number one and two positions struggled,” Buck shared. “It was exciting to win by eight shots without counting my one and two players.”
The season began on April 15 with a windy match at River Oaks in Park (Cottage Grove), where gusts were reaching 50 mph.
“It was the windiest conditions I can ever remember,” Buck said. “On top of that, the course was firm and fast. I saw many three, four and five putts.”
One person who has a reputation of playing well in those types of conditions is Jeans, and he ended the day as the medalist of the 21-team tourney, while the Rangers took second overall.
Forest Lake reached its total of 332, with a 77 by Jeans and 85s by Young, Pelton and Follese.
“Jeremy and Andrew both got off to tough starts and didn’t recover,” Buck noted. “Nobody gave up and everyone grinded till the end. Some really good players shot in the 90s and 100s.
“It was a mental battle to say the least, and it took five to five and half hours to play. I’m tired and I was only watching.”
Coming up
This week’s competition began on Monday with the spring’s first conference meet at Roseville. Forest Lake fired the low score (306), and Follese earned the medalist honor, shooting a 73.
On Thursday the Rangers host at Forest Hills. Friday and Saturday will have the team in another two-day event at the Grand Rapids Invitational.
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