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Published May 20, 2009, 10:49 AM

Park boys golf: Wolfpack third after first day of sections

After the first day of the two-round Section 3AAA tournament, the defending state champion Park boys golf team is in third place and nine strokes back of the leader.

By: Patrick Johnson, staff writer, South Washington County Bulletin

  • Rafael Castaneda
    • image
    Park junior Rafael Castaneda shot a 76 on the first day of the two-round Section 3AAA tournament to help the Wolfpack advance to the second round.

After the first day of the two-round Section 3AAA tournament, the defending state champion Park boys golf team is in third place and nine strokes back of the leader.

The Wolfpack shot a 305 at Keller Golf Course on Tuesday, May 19 to advance to the second round and to stay in contention for a trip to the state tournament. Eastview led the field with a 296 score, Rosemount was in second with a 303, Eagan was fourth with a 306 and Woodbury shot a 314 to round out the five qualifying teams.

Park head coach Hank Tressel felt his team had a good chance at going to state.

“It’s possible. Eastview is a lot like us, they can shoot a 296, but can shoot a 305 or a 306. We can shoot 305, but shoot a 296.”

Park will now head to Bunker Hills — the home to the Wolfpack’s Class 3A team state title last season — on Tuesday, May 26 for a shot to defend its crown.

Leading the way for Park at the first round of sections was sophomore Jack Barnhart with a 74. Juniors Jake Miller and Rafael Castaneda each shot 76, while junior Rorie Perkins rounded out the Wolfpack’s top-four with a 79.

All of the qualifying teams’ individual golfers, along with the top 14 golfers from the five eliminated teams, still also have a chance to qualify for state as an individual. In addition to the top team in Section 3AAA, the next top five golfers from all of the eliminated teams will go to state.

The two-day format is new to Section 3AAA this season. Last year, the teams played a one-day, 18-hole match at Keller to qualify for state. If this year’s format was the same as last year, Park would be out of the state tournament, but Barnhart would have qualified as an individual.

“I’m proud of how the team played,” Tressel said. “Now that we made it past that first round anything is possible.”

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