BY BILL MORGAN, STAFF WRITER

 

 

Nearly 200 seventh through 12th grade boys and girls golfers teed off between 7:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday on the white and red courses.

 

Rachel Halvorson of Lac qui Parle Valley High School — a sophomore — staved off charging senior Sophie Gray of Legacy Christian Academy by one stroke to chart the top girls score. Halvorson shot an impressive 76 Tuesday (37-39), then carded a 36-43-79 to capture the state title with a 155 total.

 

Gray finished second with a 39-40-79, 39-38-77 to finish at 156.

 

Halvorson’s Lac qui Parle Valley High School took home the championship trophy for the ladies with a combined score of 714 — barely beating the second place team of Fillmore Central by one point.

On the boys side, Ben Laffen of Sleepy Eye United shot a 71 Tuesday and followed that up with a 73 Wednesday to win the state title with a 144. 

 

Laffen barely outscored Khrystjan Petersen of Bethlehem Academy, who tallied a 68 Tuesday, then a 77 Wednesday to finish one back.

 

Sleepy Eye United and  Mounds Park Academy finished tied for first place with team totals of 641 — 17 points ahead of third place finisher, North Woods (658).

 

Pebble Creek General Manager and Head Golf Professional Troy Malo and Pro Shop Coordinator Ian Holmes ran the sign-up area and scoreboard while a crew of cart girls raced around the course taking care of team’s needs. Dwight Lundeen again chaired the event and he had several “helpers” as well as the tournament went off without a hitch. 

 

Lundeen’s job is to  administer the play, control the play, hammer out any problems and meet and greet the teams, players and coaches. His “helpers” — six  MGA officials — are placed throughout the golf course to assist with speeding up play, answering questions about play and helping with ruling of ball placement, stance, shots and general golf rules.

 

Becker police reserve officers managed the parking lot and helped volunteers shuttle visitors to and from the golf course to the overflow parking at the Becker Community Center and high school.

 

Becker’s Pebble Creek has hosted the state Class A tournament the last 10+ years and the success and visibility of the tournament helps drive the local economy each and every summer. Many people from the community commented on how busy the local hotel parking lots were, accommodating all the visiting schools, family members and friends. The Class A State Golf Tournament continues to boost the City of Becker into the spotlight with its highly-regarded golf course and amenities.