Clutch Putts Give Weber Class A Boys Crown; Gray Is Girls Champ

BECKER -- A year ago, the top two finishers in the boys Class A part of the state high school tournament were seniors. Now they're gone, and a new generation has moved to the top of the leaderboard at Pebble Creek GC.

Cordell Weber, a sophomore from Martin Coutny West, won the 2012 individual championship on Wednesday, thanks to a couple of crucial putts. The first-day leader (by two) felt his advantage shrinking as he came down the stretch, but he made a pair of putts in the 15-to-20-foot range on the last two holes to salvage a closing 73, which gave him a two-day total of 144.

A fellow sophomore, Sam Eisenhuth of Northeast Range, finished one behind at 145. His 72 matched the best score of the final day. 

No one else was close at the end. Former champ Beau Hanson of Frazee and Cass Lake-Bena's Dakotah Brunelle, both seniors, were both in a  three-way tie for third at 151, along with Mountain Lake Christian freshman Aaron Walzak.

This is the fifth year of the three-class state high school tournament in Minnesota. The first Class A team champion was Meadow Creek Christian. Meadow Creek is now called Legacy Christian, and it won again this year with a combined 645. Wabasha-Kellogg was second with a 663.

There was an orderly succession to the throne as far as the Class A girls individual competiition was concerned. Legacy Christian senior Rachel Gray, who tied for third last year with Kaitlyn Hennessy, behind two seniors, ascended to the top spot with a 161 (82-79).

Hennessy moved up into a tie for second with Emaleigh Vreeman, a senior from Southwest Minnesota Christian, at 166.

Although she didn't get the individual medal, Hennessy did help Lewiston-Altura win the small-school team championship for the second year in a row. L-A put together the best 18-hole score of the tournament, a 348, on Wednesday to secure the title with a cumulative 709. Lincoln HI (Ivanhoe) claimed second place with a 724.  

Minnesota State High School Golf Tournament

                                   Class A

                                   At Pebble Creek Golf Course

                                   Par 72

                                   Becker

                                   Boys 

                                    Final results  

                                   Minnesota State High School Golf Tournament

                                   Class A

                                   At Pebble Creek Golf Course

                                   Par 72

                                   Becker

                                   Girls

                                    Final results