Schultz advances to sections

Schultz finishes one over Windom's Staples

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

NORTH MANKATO -- Trailing by three strokes to Windom Area's Breanne Staples after completing the first nine holes, Springfield's Jeama Schultz approached the back nine with a little more confidence in her ability to battle the wind and wet course Tuesday.

However, Schultz came up one stroke short of Staples as Staples earned medalist honors by shooting an 82 at the Section 2A, West Subsection golf meet at North Links Golf Course.

"The wind was there and it was affecting me every shot," Schultz, who birdied the second and 15th holes, said. "The course played really well, even though it was wet. But it's a good course to play."

Schultz shot a 43 on the first nine holes, but finished with a 40 on the back nine to come within one of the medalist honors at 83. Both will advance to the Section 2A meet.

"I think the back nine I just got a little more aggressive," Schultz said. "I started hitting the ball better and adjusting to the wind a little better. I just tried to put the first nine behind me and tried to relax."

Windom Area won the meet with a score of 378 and advanced as a team, along with Springfield, who finished with a 404. Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop took third with a 411 and Jackson County Central took fourth with a 433.

Rounding out the scoring was Sleepy Eye St. Mary's (439), Cedar Mountain (450), Granada-Huntley-East Chain-Martin Luther (455), Madelia-Truman (462), St. James (471), Sleepy Eye (472), New Ulm Cathedral (527) and Martin County West (543).

All six members of Windom Area and Springfield qualify for the section meet.

Qualifying for the section meet individually was GFW's Jenna Alexander, who shot a 97. Her teammates Kelsey Marquardt (99) and Brittany Kiecker (105) also advanced.

Alexander finished the front nine with a 51, but picked up the pace and shot 46 to move on.

"It got a little warmer in the second round, and I concentrated a little more," Alexander said. "I wanted to come back. I wish I could have done better on the front."

Also advancing was Kim Welchlin of St. James, who shot a 98, and Madelia-Truman's Aria McCabe, who shot a 50 on both ends to finish with a 100. McCabe, a junior, advanced to the section meet for the second time.

"I was having really good drives," McCabe said. "My iron shots weren't as good. The water only played in on the back nine. I had some trouble on No. 9 -- it was the only time I hit it into the water. The last time I was here, I shot a 105, so I did improve a little bit. But I still think I could have gotten a better score."

Cedar Mountain's Tracy Larsen advanced with a 103. JCC had three golfers move on as Michele Edlin shot a 104, Suzanne Zelinko finished with a 105, and Jillian Leach carded a 106 for the Huskies.

GHEC/ML's lone qualifier for the Section 2A meet was Stephanie Post, who shot a 106. Post also played a better back nine, shooting a 56 on the front and a 50 on the back.

The Section 2A meet is at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at Interlaken Golf Course in Fairmont.

SCORES

WINDOM AREA (378): Breanne Staples 82; Tara Christensen 96; Brianne Hoffmann 100; Emily Oddson 100. SPRINGFIELD (404): Jeama Schultz 83; Tori Jones 102. GFW (411): Jenna Alexander 97; Kelsey Marquardt 99; Brittany Kiecker 105; Alicia TenEyck 110. JCC (433): Michele Edlin 104; Suzanne Zelinko 105; Jillian Leach 106; Jamie McCarthy 118. SESM (439): Kate Ludewig 108; Laura Huiras 108; Christy Schroepfer 110; Shelly Langer 113. CEDAR MOUNTAIN (450): Tracy Larsen 103; Misty McColley 113; Monde Larsen 115; Amanda Valentin 119. GHEC/ML (455): Stephanie Post 106; Jessica Stensland 109; Jessica Petrowiak 115; Kayla Schumski and Mindy Risk 125. M-T (462): Aria McCabe 100; Heather Simpson 116; Rachel Peterson 122; Katy Nusbaum 124. ST. JAMES (471): Candy Welchlin 98; Sadie Brehmer 110; Kim Welchlin 127; Keri Bohnert 136. SLEEPY EYE (472): Jessie Ibberson 111; Melissa McMullen 112; Erin Starkey 120; Meghan Anderson 129. CATHEDRAL (527): Gusty Cordes 121; Abby Beranek 130; Jackie Hoffman 138; Emily Guldan 138. MCW (543): Nicole Lang 112; Cierra Anderson 129; Mindy Lorenz 145; Brittany Weseman 157.