Detlefsen captures her fourth state golf crown

ONAMIA, MINN. - On the last hole of Katie Detlefsen's high school golf career, she took an ugly double bogey. Her approach plunked into a greenside bunker ... she blasted out and the ball sailed over the green ... chipped up ... putt ... another putt ... double bogey. Ouch.

And she still won by 12 shots.

The Minnehaha Academy senior wrapped up the most successful career in Minnesota high school golf history by winning her fourth Class 1A championship Thursday at Izatys Resort. She is the only player -- male or female -- to capture four crowns.

Her 12-shot margin tied her own mark for the biggest gap in state tournament history. She won by 10 shots as a ninth-grader, 12 as a sophomore and nine as a junior. She shot a 1-over par 73 Thursday, giving her an even-par 144 total for the 36-hole event. Her previous winning totals were 142, 143 and 140.

"It's kind of weird being all done with high school golf," she said. "It's like the end of a chapter. But it feels good. Overall I feel pretty good about how the tournament went. It's a good way to end."

Detlefsen, who will play college golf at Central Florida, was 3 under par through 10 holes Thursday but played the final eight holes in 4 over. She had five tap-in pars on the front nine and two on the back.

In second place at 156 were Ely senior Kaytie Spangler (who shot 75 Thursday) and Rochester Lourdes senior Molly Noser (79). Noser played in Detlefsen's foursome Thursday.

"It was cool to play with her because she's so good and it's fun to watch her," Noser said. "It's fun to sort of be a part of it."

The other members of Detlefsen's group finished fourth and fifth. Seniors Michele Edlin of Jackson County Central had a 160 total and Devon Harteneck of Lake City was at 162.

Minnehaha Academy coach Ron Monson said Detlefsen's legacy goes beyond her four championships.

"Katie has set a totally new bar for Minnesota high school golf," Monson said. "And she has shown that you can participate in high school golf as well as national golf. You can still wear the school colors and represent your school."

Indeed, Detlefsen has played in junior golf events around the country throughout her high school career. On Monday she will compete at a U.S. Open qualifying tournament in Chicago.

Thursday's victory pushed Detlefsen past a trio of women who won three titles. Jody Rosenthal was a triple winner for Hopkins Eisenhower and Lindbergh in 1979-81, Liza LaBelle did the same at Breck from 1986-88, and on Wednesday St. Cloud Apollo senior Samantha Sommers captured her third Class 2A crown. Sommers was in the gallery following Detlefsen on Thursday.

The only boys' golfer to win three times was Chris Perry of Edina West from 1978-80.

Minnewaska rolls

Minnewaska had no trouble repeating as the girls' champion, rolling to a 47-shot victory over St. Cloud Cathedral. The Lakers, with freshman Courtney Boe and sophomore Emily Roering sharing sixth place at 164, had a 667 team total. Cathedral was at 714, followed by Duluth Marshall at 734 and Providence Academy at 756.

Minnewaska junior Chelsey Falk tied for 11th, freshman Sarah Roering tied for 13th and freshman Allie Ostrander finished 23rd.

Sweep for Virginia boys

Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl won the boys' team title with a 35-shot margin, led by individual champion Casey Hill.

Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl had a team total of 626, followed by Breck (661), Crookston (666) and Lake City (670). Hill, a junior, shot a 77 Thursday for a 151 total. Robert Bell of Pierz was second at 154 and Jim Foss of Roseau and Scott Benson of Jackson County Central shared third at 156.

John Millea • jmillea@startribune.com