Waconia Surges to Convincing Win at Boys' Preview at Edinburgh, Labrador Earns Top Individual Honors

 
By Nick Hunter
nick@mngolf.org
 
 
  BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. – Trailing the defending Class AAA state team champions from Maple Grove by two strokes entering Saturday’s final round of the 2019 Boys’ High School Preview, Waconia fired a team total of 291 to cruise to an 18-stroke victory at Edinburgh USA.
 
The Wildcats prevailed from a difficult section to reach the state tournament last June before falling flat, eventually finishing sixth at Bunker Hills, 17 shots behind the state champion Crimson. Despite a rocky start to the 2019 season, Waconia overcame a two-stroke deficit Saturday by posting one of its best rounds of the season to cruise to victory in one the strongest fields of the year.
 
“We’ve been pretty sporadic our first four or five meets—we’ve had some good nines, but we just couldn’t put it together,” Waconia head coach Don Skerik said following his team’s win Saturday. “Finally, today we put it together.
 
“[Last year] we came out of sections and we were so dang happy and we got to state and, we didn’t play bad, but we didn’t play like we were hoping to. It was a good lesson and I think the boys are really determined and they worked hard over the winter.
 
Led by senior Joe Adams, who fired back-to-back rounds of 72 to finish in a tie for medalist honors with St. Michael-Albertville’s Christian Labrador (who claimed medalist honors following a four-hole scorecard playoff), Waconia finished the opening round two strokes behind the defending state champion Crimson after Friday’s first 18 holes.
 
Along with Adams, the Wildcats also got a boost from sophomore Gus Leivermann’s even par 72 and senior John Fischer’s round of 1-over par 73 to come surging from behind on the final day.
 
“I told them to relax, have fun and I said we’re going to have those holes that are going to test us and it’s how we recover from those couple of holes and to keep the positivity flowing,” Skerik said. “[Joe Adams] was in my sixth spot the first meet—he just didn’t play well at the beginning of the year. Two 72’s here—that’s pretty awesome. When my best golfer [Connor Glynn] shoots my highest score today, that’s pretty good for us. This gives us that confidence that we know we can compete. Now we need to peak at the right time in late May, early June.”
 
Entering Saturday’s final round two shots back of individual leader Adams, Labrador started hot with a birdie on his opening hole, sinking an 8-footer, but would finish his opening nine even for the round following a bogey at the third.
 
Rolling in back-to-back short birdie putts at the 10^th and 11^th holes, Labrador moved back to even par for the championship, but gave back two strokes with bogeys at the 12^th and 13^th holes.
 
At the 16^th, Labrador’s approach came to rest along a ridge and hoping to lag his putt close, Labrador’s ball trickled in for birdie to move him back to 1-under for the round. Blistering his tee shot on the final hole, Labrador stuck his 7-iron to five feet, rolling in his birdie putt to post a final-round 70 before claiming medalist honors in a four-hole scorecard playoff.
 
“It was a little cold, but I just wanted to hit some shots and get it around the golf course,” Labrador said after his win Saturday. “I birdied the first hole and tried to cruise my way through the first nine. The back nine was kind of a roller coaster. My putting saved me because I made a lot of 7-foot birdie putts on the back nine.
 
“I didn’t think about the competition too much. I stuck to my plan and played against Edinburgh golf course. I haven’t started that well this year, but I’m not too mad because I’m just trying to improve and shake off the rust. This win means a lot and once I shake off the rust, it’ll be a good season.”
 
 
 
2019 BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL PREVIEW
EDINBURGH USA
BROOKLYN PARK, MINN.
6,383 YARDS, PAR 72
 
 
FINAL TEAM RESULTS
1. Waconia, 306-291—597
2. Maple Grove, 304-311—615
3. St. Thomas Academy, 307-309—616
4. Edina, 318-305—623
5. Minnetonka, 323-302—625
6. Alexandria, 327-300—627
7. Eden Prairie, 308-312—630
8. Chaska, 316-315—631
9. Elk River, 319-314—633
10. St. Michael-Albertville, 324-311—635
T11. Lakeville North, 325-313—638
T11. Stillwater, 325-313—638  
13. Lakeville South, 332-308—640
14. Holy Family, 350-309—659
15. Wayzata, 340-330—670
16. White Bear Lake, 357-346—703
 
 
FINAL INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
1. Christian Labrador, STMA, 74-70—144 (won scorecard playoff)
2. Joe Adams, Waconia, 72-72—144
3. Brett Reid, Community Christian, 75-70—145
4. Matt Armstrong, Eden Prairie, 75-72—147  
T5. Josh Galvin, Maple Grove, 74-74—148
T5. Caleb VanArragon, Blaine, 76-72—148
7. Braeden Sladek, Alexandria, 79-70—149
8. Gunnar Broin, Minnetonka, 81-70—151
T9. Connor Glynn, Waconia, 75-77—152
T9. Sam Baker, Cloquet, 76-76—152
T9. Gus Leivermann, Waconia, 80-72—152