All of the groups are finally in up here at Bunker Hills, and I'm halfway through a much-deserved turkey sandwich after spending the last seven hours or so out on the course, hanging around the scorer's tent and in front of my laptop. After 18 holes of the boys' Class 3A state golf tournament, defending champion Wayzata has a 12 shot lead on Moorhead.
You'd think a cushion that big would please the team, and while Wayzata's players and coaches are happy to be in first there wasn't exactly a lot of celebrating going on.
Coach Alan Christopherson said nerves got the better of a few players (Wayzata has only one senior on the roster) and that his team STILL has yet to play its best golf. One more day to do that.
The Trojans were led by sophomore Tyler Lowenstein. He fired a 4-under 68 out here today, which ties him for the individual lead. St. Cloud Tech junior Charlie Braniff also carded a 68 - and it could have been better. He was 7 under after 13 holes, but took double bogey after that. The ole noggin got in his way, he said, after realizing he was a few holes away from the round of his life.
Big day of golf in the state is on tap Wednesday. We'll finish up here, and also have the first round of both the Class 1A (at Pebble Creek in Becker) and Class 2A (at Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan) boys' and girls' tournaments.
Short post, but I gotta jet. The rest of my croissant and a 40-mile drive home await.
Adios.
