MADISON – Aberdeen Roncalli junior Claire Crawford leads the field while the Cavaliers find themselves in fourth place after the opening day of the State A girls’ golf tournament Monday at Madison Golf and Country Club.
Crawford overcame a few struggles on the tail end of the front nine with a solid back nine and holds a four-stroke lead over Tori Peterson of Sioux Falls Christian.
Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are embroiled in a four-way battle for the lead after the opening day. Vermillion leads the field with a team score of 344, followed by Christian and St. Thomas More at 345 and Roncalli with a 348.
Madison is a distant fifth with a 368.
Roncalli coach Jon Murdy said the team’s effort on Monday was even more impressive given the conditions of the day.
“The course conditions today were tough with the wind,” he said. “So it was a little bit harder than most for some of the girls out there. But the girls did a good job battling the wind and put up a good team score for (day one).”
In addition to Crawford’s leading round, the Cavaliers got an 86 from Mackenzie Wegehaupt who is tied for 10th place, and a 93 each from Grace Seyer and Ava Danielson.
“The whole time today they were always worried about what someone else was doing,” Murdy said of his squad. “They want to do well for the team. It’s always really good to watch.”
Crawford will look to keep her hold on the top spot when play resumes this morning.
“It’s fun to watch her get the benefits of all the practice and all the hard work she’s been putting in year after year,” Murdy said. “It’s not just this year, it’s been years past and now she’s starting to get the benefits of it. Hopefully we can go out (Tuesday) and keep competing and see what happens at the end of the day.”
Sisseton’s Kenzley Heath is currently tied for 12th with a round of 87.
The final day of the state tournament tees off this morning at 8 a.m.
“Just keep doing the same thing we’ve been doing. Keep playing well and having fun,” Murdy said. “Go out there and compete on every shot and every hole, and see where it gets us in the end.”
Results: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/11544465073200191250
