As always covering the state golf meet for KLQP radio is one of my favorite sporting events to cover. Pebble Creek golf club and the Minnesota High School League do a really nice job running the two-day tournament. I had some pretty neat experiences this year.

While interviewing Laura Schreier from Dawson-Boyd I found out that after she was finished at the state golf tournament she was headed to Alexandria for the state trap shooting competition! She is swinging clubs on Tuesday and Wednesday at state golf and shooting guns on Thursday and Friday at the state trap meet! I thought that was pretty cool.

Molly Halvorson from LQPV and I were visiting on the radio Wednesday afternoon and she told me that after her final round today she was leaving immediately for Minneapolis and the National Dance Competition. Molly dances for Valley Dance District in Appleton. So, she too is swinging clubs at state and then dancing in a national competition that same day! That is pretty impressive to be involved at such a high level in more than one sport.

Owen Dalager from Minneota just finished his freshman year of school and this was his first year on the golf team. He really hadn’t golfed before this spring, but his friends talked him into coming out for golf and joining the team. Owen also plays on the baseball team. So what does Owen do? He places 3rd at sections and qualifies for state. He then gets on the podium at state and places 7th! Tuesday, he had three birdies in a row! That is some crazy stuff there! I enjoyed visiting with his parents in the clubhouse and visiting with Owen on the radio. What a cool story!

I think my favorite interview is with Maddie Richter of the Canby Lancers. Her attitude is so amazing. Usually when I interview high school athletes, they give short answers, and they are hoping the interview ends shortly. Not Maddie, I ask one question, and she is off and running. She has such a positive attitude about life and golfing. She is very well spoken and says just the right things. I really enjoy visiting with her.

My biggest surprise at state golf was the LQPV boys golf team taking 3rd place and how they did it. I was so happy for them. After nine holes in the final round they were 13 strokes behind the current third place team. The top three teams get a trophy. They made up 13 strokes in nine holes to take third by one stroke! I followed Griffin Kranz, Gavin Carl and Carson Besonen for a few holes. Noah Arndt played really well on Wednesday and Aaron Bonn the youngest golfer golfed well under pressure. It was fun celebrating with the team and parents afterword’s. Carson Besonen graduates as one of the most decorated high school golfers at LQPV and in the area. Carson lives and breaths golf and it shows. He’s very good.

To no one’s surprise the Dawson-Boyd girls won the state championship for the second year in a row. These girls love each other and it shows. What a team! Lindsey Lund, Allyssa Swedzinski, Claire Stratmoen, Kylar Hjelmeland and Laura Schreier. Lindsey also was the Class A individual champion for the second year in a row. She is such a kind person and very humble and gives great radio interviews. I’m going to miss her next year and her mom’s cookies. Coach Larson has won two state championships this year! While interviewing Cory, you could tell he was pretty happy with what the girls have accomplished. I told Allyssa, with Lindsey graduating, she is the leader now! Go get a 3rd championship next year.

And I also really enjoy visiting with other media people from around the state, covering state golf. It’s usually the same people and we have a chance to catch up. There’s Tom Elliott from the Willmar paper and Samantha Davis from the Marshall paper. I love chatting with parents and grandparents and other coaches. Its just fun to be at state golf and I can’t wait till next year.