Girls golf: Wingers one stroke out of first with 18 holes to play

JORDAN, Minn. -- A lightening delay, looming darkness and a challenging front nine made for a trying first day at the Class AA girls golf state tournament and yet Red Wing sits just one stroke behind first-place Detroit Lakes. The Wingers fired a 330 Wednesday at the Ridges at Sand Creek.

“That’s a good score for first day,” Red Wing coach Mark Herzog said. “I’m not so sure I wouldn’t take it tomorrow. We played good. I think that first day the big thing is you don’t want to lose a tournament the first day. You want to get yourself in position where you have a chance to win and that’s where we’re at.”

The first Red Wing golfer, Ashley Brooks, begins her final round at 12:45 p.m. Thursday.

The start of play was delayed 45 minutes Wednesday because the boys state tournament was proceeding at a slow pace and then the meet was halted for about two hours because of lightening. The delays resulted in Brooks and her foursome playing until just before 9:20 p.m. when the low light made it difficult to see.

Junior Katie Kesti led the Wingers with a 79. She is in fifth place as an individual.

“I had one or two really rough holes, but for most of the other ones it was pretty consistent,” Kesti said. “I was just happy because for the past few weeks I haven’t been swinging very well and today, actually, I hit the ball solid.”

Danielle Brooks (82), Marisa Toivonen (83) and Nikki Pasch (86) also contributed to the Red Wing team score.

All six Wingers posted a higher score on the front nine. The girls averaged 3.7 more strokes on Nos. 1 through 9 than 10 through 18.

Minnewaska Area has won five straight state championships including the last three Class AA titles; however, the Lakers’ streak is in serious danger of coming to an end. Minnewaska Area is in third place with a 345 after 18 holes.

Red Wing has finished second to the Lakers each of the last three years. The Wingers are attempting to win their first state title since 2003.

Lake City's Abby Gruber shot a 93 on the first day and is tied for 50th.

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