Roth Shoots 70 as Detroit Lakes Looks for Second Straight AA Girls Title

By Nick Hunter
nhunter23@hotmail.com

  JORDAN, Minn. – The Detroit Lakes girls golf team finds itself in familiar territory after the first round of the 2013 Minnesota State High School Class AA Girls Golf Tournament Tuesday at Ridges at Sand Creek.

A year ago the Lakers had a 27-stroke lead in team competition with eighth grader Kate Smith leading the individual competition at 2-under par as the Lakers would eventually go on to win by 35 strokes and Smith would earn medalist honors shooting 70-70—140, winning by nine strokes.

Fast forward a year and again the Lakers sit on top of the leader board, this time with a 19-stroke advantage, and this time it’s junior Natalie Roth who leads the tournament with a 2-under par 70.

“Our goal all season long has been to repeat. But what’s nice about this team is they look out for each other. They’re all great individual golfers but they still put the team first,” Detroit Lakes coach Cali Harrier said.

“I’m thrilled for Natalie (Roth) today. This is her fourth state tournament and she hadn’t played her best in the past, but everything was clicking for her today and it was nice to see her shoot a 70,” she said. “I think they all played great today; I’m proud of them but they’re still hungry and still want to get better.

Roth, who struggled during section play, was very satisfied with her opening round 70 Tuesday. “I wasn’t happy with how I played during sections, so coming into this week I knew I had to play better. I got off to a good start today, until I had a bogey on 7—I wasn’t happy with that bogey. That led to birdie-birdie to start my second nine which really got my momentum going,” Roth said.

“I didn’t try to force anything; I was playing one stroke at a time and one hole at a time. I was hitting the ball well; I got off the tee to put myself in good positions and that led to making some nice approach shots. I also made a couple long putts so I was happy with my putter.”

Defending champion Smith finished with an even-par 72 and stands alone in second place after Tuesday’s opening round but still looks to improve during Wednesday’s final round.

“I didn’t have my all at sections so I wanted to come out strong today. I thought I played alright today, I hit a lot of greens but didn’t make a lot of putts. But I can’t complain about an even par round. I was striking the ball well,” Smith said.

“I was 2-over through four so I didn’t start well but a birdie on five and made a really long putt on eight got me going and I was even after nine. I was consistent after that with pars on seven straight holes,” she said. “You try not to think about individual or team titles when you’re playing, but they're out there. All I can do is try to improve on today and hopefully it’ll be good enough.”

Minnewaska was the team trying to catch the Lakers a year ago and it’s Minnewaska again trying to make up ground on the final day. Head coach Tony Janu knows it’s a tall order with the talent and depth Detroit Lakes has.

“We wanted to come in a play solid golf. We knew what we were up against with (Detroit Lakes); they’re just a very good team. If someone told me this morning we’d shoot 316, I’d have been elated,” Janu said.

“My girls played phenomenal golf today. Ashlyn (Guggisberg), our eighth grader, played really well today. Jenna Janu shot a 76 and has had a tough year but the last week and a half has really worked hard on her game and it showed today. I can’t be more proud of my team today; I want them to have fun because when they do, they play good golf,” Janu said.

The final round begins Wednesday at 12 p.m. for individual play and 12:45 p.m. for team competition.

RIDGES AT SAND CREEK
JORDAN, MINN.
PAR 72, 5,136 YARDS

FIRST ROUND RESULTS

TEAM
1. Detroit Lakes—297
2. Minnewaska—316
3. Pequot Lakes—327
4. Lake City—347
5. Providence Academy—353
6. Visitation—360
7. Fairmont—379
8. Hibbing—381

INDIVIDUAL
1. Natalie Roth, Jr., Detroit Lakes—70
2. Kate Smith, 9th, Detroit Lakes—72
3. Hannah Peterson, So., Marshall—74
4. Maggie Heggerston, So., Pequot Lakes—75
T5. Jenna Janu, So., Minnewaska—76
T5. Savannah Stone, Sr., Pequot Lakes—76
T7. Alexis Guggisberg, Sr., Minnewaska—77
T7. Anni Heck, 8th, Visitation—77
T7. Trisa Hutchinson, Jr., Hutchinson—77
10. Sydney Busker, So., Detroit Lakes—78

For complete results go to: http://www.mshsl.org/mshsl/golfscores.asp?gender=Girls&class=AA