PIRATE BOYS GOLF TEAM BATTLE HAIL, WIND, AND RAIN AT BEMIDJI INVITE

The Crookston Pirate Boys Golf team is competing in the Bemidji Invitational played at the Bemidji Town and Country Club.  There was a lighting strike after the first two or three holes that forced a delay and as the golfers came into the clubhouse, hail started falling all over the course. After the hail cleared up off the course, play resumed on a cool, rainy, and windy day, and Crookston had four scores in the 90’s and a 100 and 101 for their six scores and finished 13th out of 14 teams while Pequot Lakes won the event. “It was an interesting day,” said Pirate Coach Steve Kofoed. “This is one of those charecter building rounds.  You have to mentally grind your way through it and I saw a lot of good shots, and some short game issues at the end.  Overall, it was a pretty good round for the guys.”

Garrett Fischer led the way for Crookston once again as the eighth-grader had another solid round.  He started on the eighth hole with a par, and on the 510-yard par-five 9th hole he recorded a birdie.  Garrett continued his solid play with a par 5 on the 10th hole.  He followed with three double bogies, a bogie before he had another par, bogie, par, and a double bogey to finish the back nine.  Fischer and his group returned to the front nine, and He parred the first hole, after a birdie, he had another par.  On the fourth hole, he bogeyed, before turning, struggling on the next two holes with back-to-back triple bogies as the rain and the wind might have started to take a toll, and he finished with a double-bogey which was good for a 92.  “He is steady and has the characteristics of playing well at some point,” said Coach Kofoed. “He had four or five holes where he was one over so that is great.  He kind of stumbled at the end of the round, but overall it was a great round.”

Ashton Shockman had another solid round for the Pirates as he was able to play through the hail delay, the rain, and the wind.  He started on the seventh hole and started with back-to-back bogies.  After a par on the ninth hole, Shockman had back-to-back bogies, and three straight triple bogies.  On the par-five 492-yard 15th hole he parred, then had another triple bogey, a par, and bogey on the 18th hole.  Ashton’s group went back to the front nine, and he had six straight bogies to wrap up his round with a 92, his best score of the year even with the rain and wind affecting play. “He was solid and was making bogies,” said Coach Kofoed. “He was consistent, and he is getting closer to getting into the 80’s.”

Connor Maruska turned in another score in the 90’s with a 98.  On the front nine, Connor had six bogies and three double bogies for afront nine 49.  On the back nine, He had two bogies to start, followed by a triple bogey and a double-bogey before he parred the par-three 171-yard 14th hole.  He followed with a bogey, bogey, double, and a triple bogey for a back nine total of 49 for a 98 total. 

Brannon Tangquist had another solid round, especially considering the conditions.  He started on the seventh hole with three straight bogies, before a double bogey, and on the par-three 193-yard 11th hole he recorded a par.  The next three holes were double-bogies, back-to-back bogies, a double bogey, and a quadruple bogey to wrap up the 18th hole.  On the first hole, Tanggquist had a bogey, double bogey, bogey, double-bogey, bogey, and on the last hole of the round (hole 6) he finished with a bogey for a total of 99. “Every time I saw him he was struggling with his putting,” said Coach Kofoed. “The greens had him complex today, but he played well in every other aspect.”

Gavin Winger had a solid round with a 52 on the front nine.  On the first hole he had a par on the 350-yard par four.  He followed with a bogey, triple bogey, bogey, quadruple bogey, triple bogey, double bogey, and a double bogey, before finishing the 510-yard par-five ninth hole with a par.  Gavin was much better on the back nine as he started with a bogey, followed by a par on the 193-par three 11th hole.  He had a bogey, double bogey, double bogey, bogey, double-bogey, bogey, and finished with a double bogey. “Gavin had a pretty good round today,” said Coach Kofoed. “He was hitting the ball well, it was just a tough day to get a real good score today.”

Hunter Nicholas was the final Pirate score with a 101. Hunter had a couple of holes that hurt him today.  On the front nine, he started with a triple bogey, bogey, bogey, triple bogey, bogey, and on the sixth hole, he shot a nine on the par-four hole. Hunter finished strong with a bogey, par, and par for a nine-hole total of 51.  On the back nine, he started with a double bogey, par, double bogey, quadruple bogey, back-to-back bogies, a double bogey and he ended with two double bogies for a back-nine total of 50 for a 101. “Hunter had a handful of holes that he struggled and that hurt him,” said Coach Kofoed. “He had some good holes too, but the ones he struggled on really hurt.”

Crookston will travel to Park Rapids on Tuesday.