Certainly no triplets

Lakeville North boasts a core of three dangerous players on the golf course. The 6-7, 200-pound senior Adam Petterson sits in the No. 1 slot. Standing below him are freshmen twin brothers Freddy and Bobby Thomas.

"It's pretty funny when you see those two next to Adam," head coach Steve Sabetti said.

Their golf games are no laughing matter. More confusing than anything.

Petterson has helped lead the Panthers to four consecutive state tournaments, including this year's starting Tuesday. Although very large in stature, this giant doesn't wield his clubs like a lumberjack. His dad taught him how to play, keeping him away from the urge to simply crush the ball and hope it lands in the fairway.

"When I was a kid I always wanted to try and hit it as far as I could," said Petterson, who also played basketball for the Panthers and will play golf for Concordia-St. Paul next year. "I realized real quick that I wasn't going to be able to hit it as straight."

In fact, his short game is where he often excels. Petterson shot a 73 at Emerald Greens and 74 at Mississippi National this year, largely in part by making putts and finding his way up and down the greens.

He has incredible touch, but his work ethic and leadership have also proven invaluable.

"Next year we're going to miss him," Sabetti said. "I'm hoping we have the transition there because these other guys have been around him enough and they know how he acts, what he's like and what we need."

Although a natural leader, Petterson still has one confession for Freddy and Bobby Thomas, who joined the team as seventh graders.

"I'm not going to lie, I struggled with their first year on the team," Petterson said. "I could not tell them apart."

If the Thomas brothers are identical twins, their golf games must be fraternal -- maybe even a completely different species. Bobby is a power hitter who shot a two-under 71 at the Dakota County Invitational.

"For a little guy he can really crank it," Sabetti said.

Freddy is the tactician, who methodically works his way around the course. He tied for medalist honors with two-day score of 150 at the Class 3A Section 1 tournament.

With two vastly different approaches, the Thomas brothers, whom Sabetti calls "golf nuts," eerily come out with similar scores.

But the question with Lakeville North, which finished sixth overall in state last year, remains in the depth department. The Panthers have been searching for stability in their fourth, fifth and sixth spots all season.

Lately, Joel Oxton has stepped up his game, finishing tied for third at sections with a 153. His production was a big reason the Panthers won the tournament with a two-day total of 614, which was 15 strokes better than second-place Lakeville South. With the four best scores counted, filling the No. 4 spot will be crucial for Sabetti's crew.

In one of the more impressive state tournament fields in Sabetti's recent memory, Lakeville North will need depth along with high-end performances from its leaders.

"I look at this field and anyone could potentially win it, but you're going to see some really low scores out there," Sabetti said.