Park boys golf: Wolfpack struggle at Midland Hills, rebound at Prestwick

The Park boys golf team shot a season-high 352 in a Suburban East Conference tournament at Midland Hills Golf Course in Roseville last Monday to finish in last place, but rebounded with a 334 to take eighth place in a conference match the next day at Prestwick Golf Club in Woodbury.

At the par-72 Midland Hills, Park sophomore Pat McCarthy led the way for the Wolfpack with an 86. Senior Garrett Mahigan (87), sophomore Alex Holland (89) and sophomore Cole LeMay (90) rounded out Park’s top four.

“Everyone had a tough day getting anything going on and around the greens,” Park head coach Chad Salay said. “We were simply not able to score well because of this. The course was playing great and it was a perfect day for scoring, so we really had no excuses other than we didn’t execute.”

Mounds View won the match with a 307. Hastings’ Matthew Radke and White Bear Lake’s Michael Pitcher shared medalist honors with matching rounds of 73.

Park played better the following day at Prestwick. Junior Chris Peterson led the way for the Wolfpack with a 78, followed by a 78 by senior Nick Cekalla. Mahigan (85) and Holland and LeMay, who each shot 92, rounded out Park’s top four.

Salay said it was one of Park’s “better days as a team and individually.”

“Both Nick (Cekalla) and Chris (Peterson) had their best rounds of the year,” he said. “We were right in the mix, but we still need a couple more guys to step up and contribute some lower scores. I am confident that will happen as we start to gear up for conference and section play.”

Mounds View won the match with a 302.

On Monday, after the Bulletin went to press, Park played in the Don Saatzar Invitational at Hastings Country Club in the morning, then headed to Stillwater Country Club in the afternoon for a conference match.

“It will be a grind,” Salay said.

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