Girls Golf: Wingers take second at hyped home invite

It’s been hailed as a prelude to the state girls golf meet and this year’s Red Wing Invitational lived up to the hype with nine of the state’s top 10 teams appearing and 11 of the state’s top-ranked players.

“It was the best field you’ll probably see in the state this year,” Wingers head coach Mark Herzog said. “It’s something that’s been building the last dozen years.”

Red Wing, ranked third in Class 3A and defending Class 2A champion, went toe-to-toe with defending 3A champion Wayzata for the tournament title and came up two strokes short of the Trojans. Wayzata shot 318 to win and Red Wing finished with a 320. The Wingers and Trojans tied the first two times they met, but if it had gone to a tiebreaker, Red Wing would have won each time, Herzog said. After 54 holes just two strokes separate the reigning champions.

Wingers senior Marisa Toivonen shot a career-low 71 to place second overall on her birthday. Wayzata’s Sarah Burnham won medalist honors with a 70.

“She’s been hitting the ball great all spring and it’s just she stayed away from the big number and had a lot of two-putts,” Herzog said.

Toivonen’s 71 may have set a record as the best round in school history for the girls program, Herzog said.

Nicole Schammel followed Toivonen with an 81, Katie Kesti added an 83 and Stephanie Herzog shot an 85. Reagan Haley had a career-low 87 and Maddie Flack shot 91.

Eighth-ranked Eastview finished third with a 320 and second-ranked Detroit Lakes shot 323. Minnewaska Area, ranked fifth, finished with a 326 while No. 1 Stillwater shot 333. Edina, ranked fifth by the Minnesota Golf Association, finished with a 342.

After finishing second to Wayzata, Herzog said he’d like another match with the Trojans. The only time that could happen would be in June at the state meet.

“I sure would like to have another chance at them,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll get to see them at Bunker Hills.”

Tags: girls golf, red wing, sports, prep