Wohlers beats Larson by two

JCC, Springfield qualify for Section 2A tournament

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

NORTH MANKATO -- As the first group of golfers turned in their scores Wednesday, most of the attention was on Springfield's Johnny Larson and then waiting to see what Jackson County Central's Phillip Wohlers ended up with.

Wohlers turned in the best front nine score when he shot a 34. He birdied the Par 3 eighth hole and ended up shooting a 39 on the back nine to finish with a 73, two strokes better than Larson at the Section 2A, West Subsection tournament held at North Links Golf Course.

Larson had a rough front nine by his standards as he struggled on the greens and shot a 40. He made a comeback on the second half of the course by shooting a 35, but still couldn't match JCC's No. 3 golfer.

"Nothing really happened on the front side today for me," Larson said. "It was alright finishing out, but I couldn't make a putt. I shot a 35 on the back, but for the front side, there's no reason for that."

Larson, who took third at the state meet last year, is hoping to qualify for state for the fifth time.

JCC won the team meet with a score of 312. Springfield also qualified for the Section 2A tournament, shooting a 327. Martin County West shot a 337, followed by Windom Area (339), Sleepy Eye St. Mary's (349), Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop (350), Sleepy Eye (351), Madelia-Truman (353), Nicollet (353), Cedar Mountain (367), Granada-Huntley-East Chain-Martin Luther (373), New Ulm Cathedral (376) and St. James (387).

All six members of JCC and Springfield qualify individually for the Section 2A meet.

Also advancing was Windom's Kyle Makovsky (77) and Dan Johnson (78). Sleepy Eye St. Mary's will send Garrett Soukup to the section meet for the second time. Soukup shot an 80, recording a 40 on both stretches of the course. He thought the back nine was a lot less complicated.

"The irons and driver were hurting me today," the junior said. "I felt the back was a little easier. I want to get the alignment on my putting down and work on the irons a little bit [for the section meet]."

Also qualifying was Nicollet's Jamie Mettler, who shot an 81 and Kelly Stenson (82), Jacob Anderson (83) and Ryan Ross (85), all of Martin County West.

Madelia-Truman's Bill Halverson advanced with an 83 and Chris Ibberson from St. Mary's shot an 84. Sleepy Eye's Alex Windschitl shot an 85 and advanced, along with Ross, on a playoff.

The Section 2A golf meet is Tuesday at Interlaken Golf Course in Fairmont.

JCC (312): Phillip Wohlers 73, Jacob Kocak 78; Brett Benson 80; Jordan Kocak 81. SPRINGFIELD (327): Johnny Larson 75; Josh Roiger 82; Dick Anderson 84; Matt McNutt 86. MCW (337): Kelly Stenson (82); Jacob Anderson 83; Luke Bloomquist 87; Ryan Ross 85. WINDOM (339): Kyle Makovsky 77; Dan Johnson 78; Sam Voth 90; Adam Teirab 94. SESM (349): Garrett Soukup 80; Chris Ibberson 84; Mark Grausam 91; Terry Ibberson 94. GFW (350): Scott Johnson 87; Justin DeRock 87; Chris Busche 87; Karl Pagel 89. SLEEPY EYE (351): Brandon Kuelbs 86; Andrew Rodrigues 87; Alex Windschitl 85; Mitch Anderson 93. M-T (353): Bill Halverson 83; Tony Mosenden 88; Jamie Schultz 88; Mike Forstner 94. NICOLLET (353): Jamie Mettler 81; Sean Lassen 85; Dusty Lassen 91; Brandon Wills 96. CEDAR MT. (367): Dan Schroeder 91, Pat Spangler 92; Aaron Larsen 90; Jon Kalkoff 94. GHEC/ML (373): Dan Johnson 89; Neil Hiatt 92; Lukas Nowicki 94; Adam Sukalski 98. CATHEDRAL (376): Mike Vetter 91; Tim Smith 93; Dan Vetter 94; Matt Hooper 98. ST. JAMES (387): Blake Nelson 93; Jake Nelson 94; Jarad Carlson 100; Tyler Menssen 100.