2023 Girls Golf State Tournament Day 2 Recap: Simley's McCauley earns second individual crown
Posted: Wednesday, June 14, 2023 - 3:42 PM
Three new team champions and two new individual champions emerged at the 2023 Girls Golf State Tournament. Junior Reese McCauley of Simley was the only past champion to win again this year. She captured Class AAA individual honors in 2021 and bested defending champion, Blaine senior Kathryn VanArragon, by two strokes this year. VanArragon also won an individual crown in 2018.
On the team side, Lac qui Parle Valley (Class A) and Pequot Lakes (Class AA) both earned their third championship. Maple Grove earned its first title in Class AAA.
In the Class A individual event, junior Raquelle Nelson of Legacy Christian Academy claimed her first crown. Grace Petzold, a senior from Providence Academy, was the individual champion in Class AA.
Class A
In the girls’ team event, the Eagles of Lac qui Parle Valley returned to the championship podium after a one-year absence. They finished with a final score of 696. This was the third title for the Eagles; they previously won in 2018 and 2021. Senior Isabella Jacobs led Lac qui Parle Valley after placing fourth with a score of 165.
Legacy Christian Academy junior Raquelle Nelson claimed championship honors with a score of 161. Fillmore Central senior Courtney Herschberger and BOLD junior Kenna Henriksen tied for runner-up honors at 164.
Fillmore Central earned second place on the team side with 697 strokes. The defending champions from Legacy Christian Academy finished third with a score of 703.
Class AA
Pequot Lakes earned its third team championship after besting the two-time defending champions from Lake City by three strokes. The Patriots finished with a score of 651 and the Tigers came in at 654. Senior Morgan Krieger placed third on the individual side with a score of 151 and was the top finisher for Pequot Lakes. Providence Academy was third in team scoring, finishing with 685 strokes.
Pequot Lakes earned its previous titles in 2002 and 2004.
Providence Academy senior Grace Petzold earned her first individual championship with a score of 145. Sophie Cook, a sophomore from Hawley, earned runner-up honors with 151 strokes.
Class AAA
The Maple Grove Crimson improved on last year’s runner-up showing to claim their first team championship with 625 strokes. Wayzata placed second this year with a score of 635 and Minnetonka was third at 648.
Senior Kathryn VanArragon of Blaine and junior Reese McCauley of Simley slugged it out over two days in the individual competition. McCauley, who won the individual event in 2021, eventually emerged with a two-stroke victory over defending champion VanArragon. McCauley finished at 136 and VanArragon followed at 138. VanArragon also claimed top honors in 2018 as a seventh-grader.
Maple Grove junior Amelia Morton and Lakeville South junior Jovie Ordal tied for third-place honors with 145 strokes.
Complete results can be viewed here: https://www.mshsl.org/2023-state-golf-results
