Golf team starts fast

The Cloquet boys golf team finally got to play in its first meet of the season last weekend and played very well - with a top-three individual finisher and a fourth-place team finish - despite a lack of practice time due to poor weather.

The Lumberjacks team finished fourth out of 18 teams overall in the two-day Grand Slam Invitational, which was played at Pokegama Golf Course in Grand Rapids Friday, April 26, and at Eagles Ridge Golf Course in Coleraine Saturday, April 27.

Moorhead won the overall event with a two-day total of 634, Chisago Lakes placed second with 638, and Detroit Lakes shot a team total of 642. The Lumberjacks came in with a team score of 649, good enough for fourth place and finishing ahead of Superior in fifth.

Senior Keegan Poppenberg placed third overall for the 'Jacks with a score of 152: he shot a 77 Friday and followed that up with a 75 on Saturday. Ian Simovich of Moorhead was the medalist with a two-day total of 149, and Gordon Skarr of Greenway was second with a total score of 150.

Cloquet played without sophomore sensation Sam Baker, who was playing at the Eden Prairie Invitational at Edinburgh Golf Course in the Twin Cities. This prestigious invitational event drew some of the top players in the state and Baker represented Cloquet extremely well. He finished 10th overall with a two-day total of 152, shooting 76 on both days of the event. Joe Adams was the medalist with a score of 142.

Coach Matt Carlson said Baker's performance in a field of more than 100 golfers was impressive.

"He is continuing where he left off last year with a nice performance at state," he said, referring to Baker's fourth-place individual finish at the Class AA state meet last year. "I look for good things from this team this year."

Carlson, who co-coaches with Jon Horbacz, was pleased with the boys' overall performance last weekend as well.

"It was their first meet, and they were chomping at the bit to get out there," Carlson said. "It's good to get the first one out of the way. They're coming into the season with a little more notice this season, they won't be sneaking up on anyone after going to state last year."

Other finishers in the Grand Slam event for the Lumberjacks included Brayden Tyman with a total of 161 and Anthony McKay with 167. Trevor Steinert shot 170, Jacob Walsh carded a 172 and Garrett Pollard turned in 175.

Fresh off a fourth-place finish a year ago at the Boys Class AA state golf tournament, the Lumberjack boys team is seeking to repeat as section champions and aiming for another state tournament berth.

The Lumberjacks boys and girls will divide and conquer this weekend, with some kids playing Friday in the Hibbing Invitational at the Mesabi Country Club while other team members will be playing Friday and Saturday at Lakeville South Invitational at Dacotah Ridge Golf Club in Morton, Minn.

The Lumberjacks' first home meet for both girls and boys teams will be Wednesday, May 8 at the Cloquet Country Club in a Lake Superior Conference meet.