With Wayzata out of the mix at Bunker Hills this week, new hands are guaranteed to hold the Class 3A boys' golf team trophy for the first time in three seasons.
Minnetonka, which unseated the Trojans in Section 6, is considered one of the favorites of a wide-open field that begins play Tuesday morning in Coon Rapids.
"We knew we had the talent," Skippers coach John Coatta said.
Minnetonka shot a team total of 298 in the first round of the section meet at Ridges of Sand Creek in Jordan, 6 strokes better than the Trojans. Wayzata improved its team score by 14 strokes on Day 2. But the Skippers went even lower, improving their mark by 10.
"We knew Wayzata was going to play their best golf and come at us, and they did," Coatta said. "It's fun for us not only to win but to win it against somebody else's best game is pretty amazing.
"We talked about it all year long, we felt like we were as good as Wayzata as far as playing the game. But golf is such a mental thing."
Rogers shared the team trophy with Wayzata last season and returns this spring with armloads of experience.
Senior Corey Muenzhuber of Rogers is back for his fourth state tournament after qualifying as an individual as a freshman and with the team each of the past three seasons. He finished in a tie for ninth overall last year. Earlier this spring he won the talent-loaded, 20-team Tri State invitational.
