CROOKSTON BOYS GOLF HOSTS INVITE AT MINAKWA, ANDRINGA AND FISCHER PLACE TOP 3 INDIVIDUALLY

The Crookston Pirate Boys Golf team hosted an Invite this morning at Minakwa Golf Course in Crookston. The Pirates had two teams competing in the event and their first team took a third-place finish with a 358, while their second team took a fifth-place finish out of six teams with a 392. Thief River Falls and East Grand Forks also had two teams competing, and the second team won the event from Thief River Falls with a score of 342. “For us to be able to get this event in, it’s a big deal for us,” said Pirates Coach Steve Kofoed. “This was a Varsity low for the season and we had multiple guys shoot their season-low for the season.”

Team 1 –
The Pirates were led by Senior Blaine Andringa who shot an 83 which was good for 2nd individually. The first time through the course, Andringa tallied four pars and a total score of 43. The second time around he shaved three strokes off his score by shooting a 40, with the highlight coming on the par-five 496-yard eighth hole where he managed a birdie. Along with that birdie, Andringa also notched three more pars and was just one stroke tie of finishing in 1st place individually. “His expectation is to shoot somewhere in the mid-low 80s,” said Pirates Coach Steve Kofoed. “He started a little rough today but closed out strong and hit a great shot on the 18th hole. With the weather being a little tough to play in, I was very pleased with the way Blaine played today.”

Not far behind Andringa was 8th grader Garrett Fischer who shot an 84 which put him 3rd individually in the field. Fischer started the first time through with two double bogeys, followed by five bogeys and two pars for a 44. Like Andringa, the second time through was better and Fischer shot a 40 which was good for a total score of 84. Fischer also managed a birdie at the par-five 496-yard eighth hole to go along with four pars, two bogeys, and two double bogeys the second time through the course. “This was by far his season-low,” said Pirates Coach Steve Kofoed. “He also had a tough start but again just slowly got better and put it all together. It takes him a little to find a groove but once he gets there he is a really solid player.”

Gavin Winger was next in line for the Pirates. Winger recorded five bogeys, two double bogeys, and two triple bogeys the first time around for a score of 50. The second time around he improved and carded two pars (holes 3 and 8) four bogeys, and three double bogeys for a 45 and a total score of 95. “Gavin just stuck in there and was able to put together a pretty good score,” said Pirates Coach Steve Kofoed. “He just needs to avoid a few big holes that he tends to put up and he will be in a good spot.”

The last score the Pirates first team used came from Hunter Nicholas. Nicholas started his day with a par on the par-four 266-yard first hole, and recorded two more pars on the front nine, along with three bogeys, a double bogey, and two triple bogeys for a score of 46. The second time through Nicholas carded a 50 with his only par coming on the 496-yard par-five eighth hole. “Hunter has been very consistent for us all season long,” said Pirates Coach Steve Kofoed. “He is the kind of guy you can always count on and he usually puts together solid rounds.”

Brannon Tangquist and Ashton Shockman were also competing for the Pirates first team, and they both broke 100 as well. Tangquist shot a 97 while Shockman shot a 99.

Team 2 –
Crookston’s second team was led by 8th grader Tate Hamre who shot a 94. Hamre carded five bogeys and four double bogeys the first time through the course for a 48 and then got two strokes better the second time shooting a 46 which included a par at the 496-yard par-five eighth hole. Hamre also added six bogeys, a double bogey, and finished his round with a triple bogey on the 454-yard par-four ninth hole. “Tate is really just starting to play the game and has continued to get better,” said Pirates Coach Steve Kofoed. “He had a couple of shots where he could improve on and he is close to improving and getting under 90 so I’m excited to continue to see what he can do.”

Right behind Hamre was Evan Shockman who scored a 96. Shockman had one par the first time playing the course, and it came on the 363-yard par-four second hole. In total Shockman produced a score of 51 on the first nine, and on the second nine got six strokes better to shoot a 45 for a total score of 96. 

Connor Maruska also broke 100 for the Pirates second team. Maruska shot a 50 on the first nine with four bogeys, four double bogeys, and a triple bogey on the 266-yard par-four first hole. Maruska improved two strokes the second time playing the course, shooting a 48 for a total score of 98. Again Maruska failed to get a par, but had six bogeys, two double bogeys, and a triple bogey. “Connor like a lot of our guys usually just have a couple of holes where it gets away from him,” said Pirates Head Coach Steve Kofoed. “He does stuff just well enough to avoid big numbers and it’s not an easy thing to do. For him, it’s just a matter of taking advantage of his great shots now to lower that score.”

The last score the Pirates second team took came from Jack Buhler who shot a 104. The Freshman got his round started with a par, but on the other eight holes had two bogeys, five double bogeys, and a 10 on the par-four 454-yard ninth hole. That was good for a score of 53. The second time through Buhler shot a 51 with a par on the 333-yard par-four sixteenth hole, two bogeys, four double bogeys, and two triple bogeys. “Jack was happy with his performance today,” said Pirates Head Coach Steve Kofoed. “He has a great mindset and in weather like this, that’s great to see. He controls what he can control and that is going to suit him well in the future.”

The Pirates second team also had Lincoln Waldal, David Threatt, Kevin Nielsen, and Daniel Jones playing. Waldal shot a 121, Threatt a 131, Nielsen a 145, and Jones a 153.

Crookston will next play at the Valley Golf Course in East Grand Forks for the Pre-Sub Section Meet. All the results from today can be found below.