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Otter Girls Sitting in Second Place After Day One of Class AA State Golf Tourney

By Craig Olson, 06/16/21, 12:30AM CDT

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Day one of the Class AA Girls State Golf Tournament at Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan went well for the Fergus Falls Girls’ as they recorded a team score of 359, placing them second to Lake City’s 343 total.  Minnewaska Area is third at 362, followed by Providence Academy 365 and Pequot Lakes 367.


Annika Jyrkas hits her approach shot on the sixth green. PHOTO by JENNIFER SOYDARA

Mallory Belka of Perham, the Section 8AA medalist, is at the top of the leader board with a one-over par 73.  Annika Jyrkas and Ellia Soydara of the Otters are tied for eleventh place after recording rounds of 83.

“Ridges is a demanding course in that it has strong holes that are both wide open with severe inclines and strategically placed bunkers, while also having doglegs that force you to lay back then force a shot that must carry over water,” said Fergus Falls Head Coach Ben Jurgens.  “Ellia (41-42) and Annika (44-39) had solid rounds today.  If we hope to make a move tomorrow we are going to need more depth with our required four of six scores.  Our goal is six scores under control.  Most importantly, the girls are playing hard, having fun, and competing at a high level.  We are at the state tournament and coaches and players alike have bought into the fact that if we are not having fun we are missing the point of this state tournament experience.  So, even though we are as competitive as any team, we are having a blast doing it!  Today was a great day for Otter Girls Golf! Let’s Go!”


Annie Mayer on the eighth teebox. PHOTO by JENNIFER SOYDARA


Ellia Soydara with her approach shot on the seventh hole. PHOTO by JENNIFER SOYDARA


Lexi Metcalf putts from the fringe on the sixth green. PHOTO by JENNIFER SOYDARA

Lexi Metcalf and Annie Mayer had the other two scores contributing to the first day team total, shooting rounds of 96 and 97, respectively.  Thea Eklund turned in a 99 and Ella Mayer a 101 to round out the team scoring.

Individual scores for Pequot Lakes included an 80 for Morgan Krieger, who is tied for sixth place, a 93 for Genevieve Birkeland, a 94 for Annie Neva, a 100 for Maddie Pederson and a 106 for Charlee Sullivan.

Ivy Tickel of Hawley had a first round score of 94.

In the AA boys' competition, Barnesville senior Adam Tonsfeldt fired a 76 and is tied for tenth place.  Perham's Marcus Belka and Lukas Justesen of Detroit Lakes are tied for 24th after registering first round scores of 78.


Thea Eklund with her approach shot on number six. PHOTO by JENNIFER SOYDARA


Ella Mayer with second shot from the eighth fairway. PHOTO by JENNIFER SOYDARA