Medalist trio tops Fairmont girls golf’s invite crown
FAIRMONT — Fairmont’s girls golfers proved the ultimate multi-taskers during Saturday’s eight-team Cardinal Invitational at Interlaken Golf Course in Fairmont.
Bergen Senf, Maggy Totzke and Isabell Geiger earned top-seven medalist honors to power the hometown Cardinals to a first-place team total of 361. Ironically, Fairmont also pitted its back-nine scores against New Ulm to exit the 5-hour tournament with a 174-188 Big South Conference dual-meet victory over the Eagles.
“We (the two programs) decided to let our scores today double as our conference dual, so we literally doubled our wins. Now that’s efficient,” said Fairmont head coach Brad Haugen. “We actually shot a 351 to win the New Prague tournament (April 26) to serve as our season-low, but I thought the girls shot a solid score today.
“While we do have a home-course advantage playing here, Interlaken negates some of that edge due to its (long) yardage.”
Senf, however, utilized her long drives, accurate iron shots and precision putting to tame the 18-hole course by penciling in a first-place total of 39-39-78. The Fairmont junior phenom topped the entire field by connecting for birdies on Nos. 5, 11 and 17, to complement a team-leading six pars.
Totzke carded five pars to highlight her round of 46-42-88 to capture third-place honors overall and second on the Cardinals’ roster, while Geiger rallied from a slow start to net seventh-place accolades on the strength of a 46-51-97. Geiger connected for four pars on the day.
Anika Haugen completed the counting scores behind Fairmont’s 24-stroke margin of victory over runner-up New Ulm (385). The Cardinal left-hander broke the century mark by firing a 52-46-98 to just miss top-seven medalist honors by one shot.
Bailey Martinson and Anna Nordquist rounded out Fairmont’s winning ways by generating a pair of 104s. Nordquist made four pars to highlight a 57-47 effort, while Martinson netted one par en route to a 53-51 total.
Mateja Lane earned individual honors for Blue Earth Area, which placed seventh in the team standings with a 437. Lane generated a team-best five pars to net a fifth-place overall total of 47-45-92.
Claire Jordan carded a 53-55-108 to finish second on the Bucs’ roster, Serina Wirth made one par to pace a 56-60-116, while Maddie Armon completed the counting marks with a 63-58-121.
Liz Beeler tallied a 63-59-122 for Blue Earth Area, while teammate Olivia Stewart sank one par to pace a 60-63-123 on the tourney.
Vanessa VonBank proved North Union’s lone golfer during Saturday’s event, penciling in a 54-50-104. VonBank, who’s a two-sport spring athlete, hit the tee box only 13 hours after competing in the 64th annual Sentinel Relays track & field meet in Fairmont.
VonBank, playing in just her third golf meet of the season, will compete in both sports today. VonBank tees off at 10 a.m. in the Top of Iowa Conference golf meet at Gruis Golf Course before traveling to Central Springs, Iowa, for a 4:30 p.m. track & field meet.
Abbey Frauenholtz garnered runner-up individual medalist honors with back-to-back 42s for an 84 to pace New Ulm’s performance, while teammate Jana Julia Boquet captured fourth place overall with a 45-46-91.
Brynn Gustafson (62-64-126) and Lauren Scott (71-61-132) competed for the Fairmont junior varsity.
Fairmont competes in the Byron Invite at 11 a.m. today at Somerby Golf Course, while Blue Earth Area plays host to Windom Area at 4:30 p.m. today at Riverside Town & Country Club.