Northfield girls golf team qualifies for state

For the first time since 2011, the Northfield High School girls golf team will be headed to the MSHSL state tournament that will take place on June 11-12 at Bunker Hills G.C. in Minneapolis.

The Raiders punched their ticket to the state meet as a team by capturing the 2024 Section 1AAA championship, which was held at the Cannon Golf Club in Cannon Falls on Tuesday, May 28 and Thursday, May 30.

Northfield won the top spot with a team score of 705, while Farmington finished as the runner-up with a score of 733. Owatonna (740), Rochester Mayo (742), Lakeville North (773) and Austin (795) completed the top six spots at the Section meet.

Senior Emerson Garlie turned in another impressive performance on the links at the Cannon Golf Club as she placed third overall with a two round total of 157 (78-79), while Carmen Jirele of Owatonna earned medalist honors with a score of 152 and Lakeville South’s Jovie Ordal placed second at 156.

Northfield’s Karina Johnson placed fourth on the leaderboard with a score of 165 (85-80). Other top finishers at the meet for Northfield were Annika Johnson (96-87=183), Danica Sorem (107-98=205), Alivia Kortuem (108-102=210) and Annalisa Larson (108-103=211).

“In the first round, we didn't play up to the level of play that we are accustomed to,” NHS coach Mel Miller said. “I feel that the rain during the first part of that round played a significant role in the outcome. I also feel that because of our play in the first round, it only made us more focused."

Miller continued, “During the first nine holes of round two, the four top scorers were 23 over par and we opened up a 20 stroke lead. The girls were determined to win the section. As a team we wanted to get to the State Tournament.”

Although this will be the first time since 20211 that Northfield has qualified for the state finals as a team, the Raiders have had at least one person make it to state in girls golf for 15 consecutive years. Garlie qualified for the state tournament in 2022 and 2023 as an individual. She placed seventh at the Class AAA meet last year with a score of 150 and she placed 17th at the 2022 state meet with a score of 156.