Athletes of the week: Edina golfer made most of time away

A welcome break, followed by an early spring, proved to be just what the Edina senior needed to start the high school golf season in midseason form.

Rusk, the 2011 Minnesota Boys' Junior PGA champion, won two meets last week and finished second in a third, playing 48 holes at 1 over par.

He won the Red Wing Invite at Mississippi National by shooting a par 71 and tied for first at the 19-team Prior Lake Invite at the Wilds with a par 72. He finished second in a 12-hole dual meet against Wayzata, shooting a 1-over-par 50 at the Wayzata Country Club.

"My short game was on last week," he said. "I was keeping the ball in play, getting up and down and making putts."

Rusk credited a respite from golf over the winter -- he also plays hockey for Edina -- for helping him get his game in shape.

"Living in Minnesota, it's always hard to play in the winter, but it's also a nice break," Rusk said. "As long as I hit in a dome once or twice a week, I knew I'd be fine."

Rusk also said the snowless March has played a large role in his early success.

The senior thrower set a state record in the shot put with a throw of 65 feet, 8 inches at the Pony Relays in Stillwater. It was two inches better than the previous record, which was set by Mounds View's Nate Englin in 2003.

Charboneau battled near-winter-like conditions on April 16 shooting a 78 to win the Blaine Invitational at the TPC of the Twin Cities. On Thursday, he shot a 1-under-par 107 over 27 holes to win the 27-team Bunker Hills Invitational.

Heck was economical in a five-hit, complete-game shutout of St. Francis, needing only 89 pitches and striking out 10. He followed that by hitting a game-winning three-run homer in a 10-8 victory over Wayzata.

MEGAN LINDER

The sophomore was a three-time winner at the Heidi Kunz Invitational -- taking first in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes -- and added victories in the 100 and 200 meters at the Armstrong Invitational.

Zidar proved to be a feared clutch hitter in the Rangers' four victories last week. She hit a game-winning double in a victory over Roseville and had game-tying and game-winning RBI in a 10-6 victory over Stillwater in 10 innings.