Edina's Torger Ohe leads Lake golfers by winning state title

After winning Minnesota Golf Association Junior Player of the Year honors in 2023, Torger Ohe of Edina was primed for a virtuoso performance in the State Class AAA Tournament June 11-12 at Bunker Hills in Coon Rapids.

Ohe, in his junior year of high school, played like a pro to take the title by three strokes over state runner-up Cooper Daikawa of Centennial. They were the only two players in the AAA ranks to put together back-to-back rounds in the 60s. Ohe’s scores were 67-68-135. Daikawa followed with 69-69-138, which would have won the tournament some other years.

Edina didn’t make the state tournament as a team for one of the rare times in school history, but Ohe didn’t have to go it alone last week. Hornet senior Jimmy Abdo tied for 16th place with 75-75-160. Hornet sophomore Sander Ohe, another individual qualifier, managed a tie for 40th place with 79-77-156.

Benilde-St. Margaret’s, the team that kept Edina out of the state tournament this spring, won the AAA state team title. The Red Knights had four scorers among the top 21 - Patrick Hastings, Henry Trent, Carter Callan and Braydon Pulcanio. The other players on the championship squad are Charlie Moen and Blake Steensland.

Other than the Edina boys, Lake golfers didn’t win high places at state. All-conference player Russell Ylitalo, a sophomore from Buffalo, 76-78-154 to tie for 36th place with four others. Eden Prairie junior Ryan Cronin had rounds of 81 and 82 as the only other Lake Conference state qualifier.

Lake Conference golf powers Eden Prairie, Minnetonka and Wayzata have fallen off some the last couple of seasons with Edina emerging as the dominant team.

Good conditions and moderate temperatures made both days pleasant on the Bunker Hills course. This is one of the best facilities in the Twin Cities to accommodate the state boys and girls tournaments on the same dates.