Youth Is Served in 1st Round of Girls AAA Tournament

COON RAPIDS -- Experience didn't seem to be much help on Tuesday during the first round of girls Class AAA competition in the Minnesota state high school tournament. 

Kathryn VanArragon, a seventh-grader from Blaine, is the individual leader after she posted a 2-under-par 70 at Bunker Hills GC. Megan Welch, a senior from Lakeville North, is one of three players tied for second at 72, but she's the only senior in the top six thus far. Northfield junior Molly Stevens is also at 72, but the other member of the second-place triumvirate is ninth-grader Camille Kuznik of Orono. 

Another two strokes behind are Woodbury sophomore Aayushi Sarkar and an eighth-grader, Madi Hicks of Chanhassen. 

The 2018 Ms. Minnesota Golf, Joanna Kim of Edina, is one of three seniors tied for seventh at 76. Also at that number are Wayzata's Hallie Greenberg and Bemidji's Abbie Keim.

Kim tied for medalist honors last year, along with Red Wing's Sophia Yoemans, who was a sophomore. The Red Wing team moved back into Class AA this spring, and Yoemans shot a tournament record for all classes, a 63, in Tuesday's first round at The Ridges at Sand Creek. She leads by three over her teammate Leah Herzog, who also broke the old overall tournament record of 67 (shot by New Prague's Kenzie Neisen and Wayzata's Sarah Burnham in 2014).

Edina came to Bunker Hills as the heavy favorite to win the team championship for the fourth consecutive year. No one had beaten the Hornets all season, or even come close. But they struggled on Tuesday, and Roseville will have a three-stroke head start on them when Wednesday's final round begins, 318 to 321. 

Once again, younger girls -- very much younger -- are playing a major role. 

A pair of precocious seventh-graders, Olivia Salonek and Vunnisa Vu, are leading the way for the Raiders. They both shot 79's and are tied for 16th place. It was Salonek and Vu who led the way for the Raiders in their victory at the Section 5AAA tournament. Hannah Bruns, a senior, added an 80, and so did sophomore Surena Vu.


GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL GOLF

State Tournament

Class AAA

At Bunker Hills GC

Par 72

Coon Rapids

First-round results 

1. Roseville                  318

2. Edina                       321

3. Lakeville North        325

T4. Woodbury             334

T4. Chanhassen         334

6. Buffalo                    347

7. Forest Lake            352

8. Stillwater                356

Individuals

1. Kathryn VanArragon, Blaine                70

T2. Megan Welch, Lakeville North          72

T2. Molly Stevens, Northfield                 72

T2. Camille Kuznik, Orono                     72

T5. Aayushi Sarkar, Woodbury              74

T5. Madi Hicks, Chanhassen                 74

T7. Joanna Kim Edina                           76

T7. Hallie Greenberg, Wayzata             76

T7. Abbie Keim, Bemidji                        76

10. Emma Welch, Lakeville North         77