Fighting not only the wet conditions of the New Prague Golf Club, but the uphill battle of a 29-stroke deficit to Holy Family Catholic after round one, the St. Peter boys golf team managed to surpass Southwest Christian to earn second place in the section while qualifying both senior Kaiden Brovold and sophomore Owen Matejcek for the MSHSL state Championship.
Despite the pair of bids to state, the mood was somewhat somber as senior Anthony Nicolai and freshman Ethan Moreau found themselves in a three way tie with Waseca’s Cody Vagts for the final at large bid, resulting in a playoff that was ultimately won by Vagts after he recorded a par on hole No. 10.
Senior Rhyan Holmgren, competing in her first varsity season with the girls golf team, also competed in the finals for St. Peter and finished her illustrious Saints athletic career by earning 23rd in the section with a 36-hole score of 197.
Brovold earned his return to state with a seventh-place finish in the section and on the back nine, he went a perfect nine for nine with par finishes. His trip to state marks the fourth consecutive year he will make the trek to Jordan’s Ridges at Sand Creek course for the Saints.
For Matejcek, he punched his ticket to state by finishing the second round with the best score of any golfer not competing for Holy Family, a one over round of 69 that saw him record a pair of birdies and 16 pars. His amazing consistency on the day came despite the conditions of the course which had some holes altered to account for standing water.
After 36 holes, Moreau and Nicolai were tied with Vagts having put together a score of 149. The format of the playoff would have featured the golfers playing hole No. 10 and No. 18 until one player remained, but ultimately only one hole was needed.
Vagts made a par putt to place pressure on the St. Peter duo to sink their par putts but both, while having the distance right, missed just right of the hole, bringing an end to their phenomenal season.
Seniors Blake Magelee and Korey Lager also battled through the conditions, finishing with rounds of 154 and 157 respectively.
While Brovold will continue his senior season, the Section Finals Tuesday marks the end of the St. Peter careers of the incredibly accomplished Anthony Nicolai, Blake Magelee and Korey Lager, who have helped lead the Saints in an era of unprecedented success.
The MSHSL State Championship for Class AA will once again be held at Ridges at Sand Creek Golf Course Tuesday and Wednesday June 11-12 with the boys teeing off beginning at 7:30 a.m. both days.
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