Holy Family Boys Move Closer to Second Straight Team Title; Lourdes' Hickey Leads With 72

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By Nick Hunter
nick@mngolf.org
 
 
  JORDAN, Minn. – A year ago, Holy Family Catholic High School captured its first team title at the boys’ Class AA championship after coming from behind to defeat Detroit Lakes by three strokes. Looking to become the fifth team to repeat at the championship since 2008, the Fire will be in the driver’s seat entering Wednesday’s final round with a seven-stroke lead over the Lakers by shooting a 310 Tuesday at Ridges at Sand Creek.
 
Led by junior Jake Stedronsky’s round of even par 72 in cool and wet conditions Tuesday, the Fire also got help from fellow junior Sam McNulty and sophomore Ben Reddan as all three finished the opening round inside the top-20.
 
“For the conditions, I think we played very well. It was tough on the kids and as the rain came and the bugs disappeared, I think they fought it,” Holy Family head coach Rob Nelson said Tuesday.  “The best thing is they handled situations really well and didn’t let it bother them and kept playing. We didn’t have anyone go really low—we had some 70s and a couple kids in the 80s that usually shoot 79 or better.
 
“We talked and we’ve got a lot of work for tomorrow. This is a new year and we’ve got to go out and play. We don’t expect anything and don’t take it for granted and need to take it one stroke at a time and one hole at a time and whatever has happened, forget it and go on. We try to keep the positive thoughts in their heads and they’re receptive. I think they’re slowly coming together—now that we’re at the end.”
 
Nelson said his team has to capitalize on chances on and around the greens during Wednesday’s final round to have a chance at hoisting the first-place trophy once again.
 
“We need to make some putts—too many three-putts today,” he said. “I saw some great iron shots from the kids and they were right on. We had a lot of lip-outs and missed some birdies, but their control putts were right on.”
 
Stedronsky carded two quick birdies to begin his round Tuesday, but finished his opening nine at even par. Recording three consecutive bogeys early on his back nine, Stedronsky held on over the final four holes to shoot 75, finishing the opening round tied for eighth.
 
McNulty played his opening nine under par before stumbling on the inward nine, finishing tied for 15^th with a round of 77, while Reddan carded a 6-over 78 to sit tied for 20^th after the first 18 holes of play.
 
On a day when the golf course gained the upper hand in challenging conditions, Rochester Lourdes senior Kyle Hickey looked unfazed by rolling in three birdies on his opening nine en route to a round of 72 to finish the first day of competition on top of the leaderboard by one stroke.
 
“I played well on the [front nine], but had some swing issues on the last nine that cost me,” Hickey said following his round Tuesday. “I was feeling pretty good and they told me that I was leading, but then nerves got me a little bit. It’s good practice, I guess.”
 
“I couldn’t hit the ball off the tee, but I think I’ve got that figured out. I putted pretty well today and made some keys putts. The weather slowed down the greens a bit and the ball was sticking a little bit more. [Expectations] were high coming in; I wanted to be under par, but even is fine, I’m in the hunt.”
 
Beginning the first round on the tenth hole Tuesday, Hickey started quickly by getting up-and-down from off the par-5 10^th for birdie before sticking his sand wedge inside of five feet at the 14^th, moving to 2-under for the day.
 
Hickey got up-and-down once again at the par-5 18^th, but dropped a stroke with a bogey at the first. Rolling in a 10-footer at the second, Hickey got back to 3-under but carded a bogey and double-bogey over his final seven holes to shoot 72.
 
Hickey enters Wednesday with a one-shot lead over Hill-Murray’s Ben Warian and Detroit Lakes’ Hunter Burnside, while four players, including 2017 individual champion Cecil Belisle, sit two shots back at 74.
 
The 2019 Minnesota State High School Boys’ Class AA Tournament continues Wednesday with final-round tee times beginning at 7:30 a.m. at Ridges at Sand Creek.
 
 
 
2019 MN STATE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS’ CLASS AA TOURNAMENT
RIDGES AT SAND CREEK
JORDAN, MINN.
6,363 YARDS, PAR 72
 
 
TUESDAY’S TEAM RESULTS
1. Holy Family – 310
2. Detroit Lakes – 317
T3. Hill-Murray – 325  
T3. Cloquet-Esko – 325  
5. Blue Earth Area – 329
6. Red Wing – 331
7. St. Cloud Cathedral – 336
8. Jackson County Central – 345
 
 
TUESDAY’S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
1. Kyle Hickey, Rochester Lourdes, 39-33—72
T2. Ben Warian, Hill-Murray, 37-36—73
T2. Hunter Burnside, Detroit Lakes, 36-37—73
T4. Carter Doose, St. Peter, 38-36—74
T4. Seth Olson, Montevideo, 38-36--74
T4. Cecil Belisle, Red Wing, 37-37—74
T4. Thomas Gutzmer, Jordan, 36-38—74
T8. Gus Vatnsdal, Roseau, 39-36—75
T8. Blake Stedronsky, Holy Family, 36-39—75
T10. Will Freeman, St. Cloud Cath., 40-36—76
T10. Grant Inniger, Barnsville, 39-37—76
T10. Luke Alexander, Rochester Lourdes, 38-38—76
T10. Mason Plante, Marshall, 35-41—76
 
 
For complete tournament results go to:
www.iwanamaker.com/leaderboard/view/5445362?tid=27&type=strokes&flightid=0&view=traditional&roundid=0&contestid=undefined&limit=0