The weather proved ideal for the two-day event as temperatures hovered in the “comfortable” range of the mid-to-upper 70s both days.

 

Becker Golf Director Troy Malo had a full staff running the event and Shelly Mattson and her crew from Hunter’s Ridge were kept busy running the restaurant, the downstairs snack bar, the beverage carts and the outdoor grill.

 

“Just finished up probably the two craziest days of the year at the golf course with about 600 people each day at the state high school league tournament,” said Mattson. “Thanks to all who came out and to the staff who worked incredibly hard.”

 

The hosting of the state golf tournament is a boon for the Becker area as hundreds of players, family and friends descend on Becker for week-long practice and play festivities. Area restaurants, hotels, gas stations and stores benefit greatly from the swarms of people who make Becker their home for the week.

 

Mounds Park Academy eighth-grader Brock Bliese must have felt some pressure coming into Wednesday’s Class 1A final round at Pebble Creek Golf Club in Becker.

 

Bliese was tied for second place and playing in the final group with three seniors: 2013 champion Luke Johanson of Southwest Christian, 2012 champion Cordell Weber of Martin County West and 18-hole leader Nathaniel Kahlbaugh of Mahnomen/Waubun.

The 14-year-old, however, wasn’t intimidated.

 

Bliese shot a 35 on his front nine and finished his round with a 2-over-par 74 to clinch the state championship, winning by one stroke over Weber. The two were tied after 35 holes, but Bliese made an 8-foot par putt on the final hole to save par and win the title outright.

 

“Front nine felt like I’ve never played this well before,” he said. “I thought this could be it, this could be the year I win state.”

 

Weber finished one stroke ahead of Murray County Central’s Adam Christensen. Mahnomen/Waubun brothers Nathaniel and Blake Kahlbaugh rounded out the top five, while Dawson-Boyd won the team title by 15 strokes over United South Central.

 

Southwest Christian’s Christine Piwnica overcame a 6-over-par 42 on the front nine at Pebble Creek to earn medalist honors at the Class 1A girls’ golf state tournament.

 

Piwnica shot a 2-over 38 on the back and an 8-over 80 for the round. The senior parred nine of her final 11 holes for a two-day total of 159 and a nine-stroke victory over Westbrook-Walnut Grove’s Abby Herding.

 

The tournament marked Piwnica’s third consecutive top-10 finish at state. She finished tied for third last season and eighth in 2012.

Legacy Christian Academy won its second consecutive team title, topping BOLD by 14 strokes. Freshman Kayla Ruf led the Lions with a two-day score of 176, and junior Jillian Johnson led them Wednesday with an 85.

 

Becker’s Pebble Creek has hosted the state Class A tournament the last seven years and the success and visibility of the tournament helps drive the local economy each and every summer.