Springfield/Comfrey girls will rely on depth

By BOB VARMETTE

Journal Sports Writer

SPRINGFIELD -- Jennifer Schultz spent much of the day Saturday going to graduation receptions before hosting her own. Sunday, the Springfield/Comfrey senior graduated from Springfield High School.

Today and Tuesday, she will play in the Class 1A girls state golf tournament at St. Cloud Country Club.

Hectic piling the state tournament on top of graduation? No way -- golf is a time to relax.

"It's nice to go to state again," said Jennifer Schultz, who shot a 97 in the Section 2-1A tournament at St. James Country Club. "It's nice to know I'm going to end my career at the state tournament."

It's also nice to know going into the state tournament as a senior the pressure isn't solely upon her. Schultz will be joined by teammates and sisters Jackie and Jeama Schultz, fellow seniors Maria Petersen and Kris Voge, and Kris' sister Nikki.

Springfield/Comfrey won the Section 2-1A crown with a 371 -- three strokes ahead of Windom, and the Tigers' second straight section title. Jackie Schultz fired an 82 to win section medalist honors.

Jeama Schultz shot a 95, and Jennifer Schultz and Kris Voge recorded 97s. The Tigers were the only team at the section tournament to have all four of their scorers come in under 100.

The Tigers have been nothing if not consistent all season. They may not be blessed with one girl who consistently blisters the course, but they have six girls who usually shoot in the 80s to mid-90s.

It's not just consistency. It's depth.

"The depth is what actually takes you places," Tigers coach Peggy Larson said. "When we have all six girls in the same range, we have the luxury of someone shooting a bad score."

And, not unimportantly, the players realize that. That allows them the luxury of playing without a lot of pressure on their shoulders.

"We can have fun and try our hardest," Petersen said, "because you have other players to rely on, other players to back you up."

This is nothing new for the Tigers. In the 1999 Class 1A tournament, Springfield/Comfrey placed fourth, led by then-senior Jeanno Larson.

Jeanno Larson was the only senior on that squad, which like this season's, prided itself on consistency. With three seniors this year, the Tigers have been just as consistent.

Four scorers that average around 90 will net you a team score of around 360. That's likely to net you a pretty good showing at the state tournament.

That equals less pressure on an individual.

"I know the team expects me to do well," Jackie Schultz said. "But I know they can shoot as good of scores as I do, and they do. It's great to know the whole team is there and can back you up."

Kris Voge agreed.

"We're going there to support each other and we know what to expect this year," she said.

The Tigers are first and foremost going to St. Cloud to have fun. Their expectations are realistic.

They hope to better their finish in '99 by finishing second or third. Peggy Larson expects Staples-Motley to be the favorites, but she and her players believe they can play with Roseau, '99 runners-up to Staples-Motley.

St. Cloud Country Club is not much like Springfield Golf Club. The river that comes into play on four of the holes is the Mississippi, not the Cottonwood.

There are more trees, hills, dogleg holes and water, and the greens are quicker. The Tigers are not intimidated.

"I like the greens," said Nikki Voge, who shot a 97 at the section tournament. "They're fast, and I like fast greens. There's not very much water that comes into play, so I won't have to worry about that."

It's Nikki Voge's first time at the course, but freshman Jeama Schultz has already played in a state tournament.

"The first time helped," Jeama Schultz said. "I'm not as scared of the course or of the situation. We've all been doing alright. Jackie has been doing really well. She's been really confident."

Confident is the word for the whole squad -- the Tigers figure the hardest part is already behind them. Now, it's time to relax and have fun.

"I would like to win, that's something we've all talked about," Jennifer Schultz said. "But we're taking it one day at a time. A lot of people didn't expect to see us there again. We lost a really great senior (Jeanno Larson) that played six years.

"I guess there's always some sort of pressure, but I'm going to enjoy it. This is my last hurrah."