Red Wing's Sophia Yoemans wins 2A golf title with state tournament record 15-under

Since elementary school, Red Wing classmates Sophia Yoemans and Leah Herzog have been bringing out the best in each other.

The duo, now high school juniors, are taking it to extremes on the golf course.

Yoemans fired a state tournament- and course-record 15-under-par 129 to win the Class 2A girls' two-day meet Wednesday under ideal playing conditions at Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan. She shared the Class 3A individual title with Joanna Kim of Edina the previous year.

"They are definitely different," said Yoemans, who wound up with a 2-over 146 a year ago at Bunker Hills Golf Course in Coon Rapids. The Wingers dropped down to Class 2A this year after opting up the previous two seasons.

Herzog was the runner-up, eight strokes back at 7-under 137. It was another 11 strokes back to the third-place finisher.

"It's unique to have the No. 1 and No. 2 players in the state on the same team," Yoemans said. "We both have gotten a lot better this year, and really pushed each other. We have gone back and forth all year."

Yoemans, the state's top-ranked girls' player, shot a 6-under 66 in the final round after opening with a 9-under 63 — also state tournament and course records — on Tuesday.

Yoemans started the final round with a 2-under 34 on the front side. Her 4-under 32 on the backside was one shot better than her final nine the previous day.

"My driver was the best club in my bag. It was big being in the fairways," Yoemans said. "My putting was solid, too."

Herzog wound up with the third-best round of the final day, registering a 1-under 71. In the opening round, she shot a 6-under 66 that stood as a state tournament record until Yoemans completed her round 15 minutes later.

Detroit Lakes won its sixth team championship in the past seven years, defeating runner-up Marshall by 26 strokes.

East Grand Forks senior Nate Deziel wasn't intimidated by having two past champions — Derek Hitchner of Blake from 2016 and Cecil Belisle of Red Wing from 2017 — in the field. The first-round leader finished with a 7-under 137, edging the late-charging Hitchner by one stroke and Belisle by two.

"I haven't played against that type of competition all year," Deziel said. "Playing with the best brought out the best in me."

Deziel shot a 4-under 32 on the front nine, widening his lead to four strokes. Hitchner shot a final-round 67, including a 33 on the back nine, while Belisle matched Deziel's 68 during the final round, ending with a 32 on the last nine.

"I couldn't have ended my [high school] career on a better note," Deziel said.

Holy Family prevented Detroit Lakes from sweeping the team crowns, edging the Lakers by three shots.