Boys golf: Stillwater climbs to third at Border Battle

The Stillwater boys golf team showcased its depth while placing third out of 20 teams in the Border Battle on April 30-May 1.

The Ponies used 12 different players in the two-day tournament, which began with 18 holes at The Royal Golf Club in Lake Elmo and concluded with 18 more at Troy Burne Golf Club in Hudson, Wis.

Parker Trobec and Brendon Rickheim each carded a 1-over par 73 on Day 2 to help the Ponies post the second-lowest total of the day to climb four spots up to third with a score of 608 (309-299).

Edina and Alexandria each finished at 285 in the opening round, but the Hornets followed with a 296 on Day 2 to pull away for a 581-592 victory over the Cardinals.

Edina’s Jimmy Abdo claimed medalist honors with a two-day total of 138 (65-73), which was two shots ahead of Jack Holtz (140) of Alexandria and Carter Spalding (140) of Woodbury.

Stillwater was one of just three teams in the entire field to score better on Day 2, led by Trobec and Rickheim. Trobec started his round with a triple bogey while playing into the cold wind, but played the next 17 holes in 1-over.

Dane Berggren followed with a 76 and Zeke Roberts completed the scoring with a 77 while Ryan Stanek (79) and Luke Myers (81) were not far behind.

Stillwater received a 75 from Tyler Coleman to lead the way in Round 1. David Calderone and John Lillie each contributed a 77 and Gavin Salazar added an 80, just ahead of teammates Jeremiah Giacomini (81) and Axel Diehl (82).

“The score showed the depth of the team talent,” Ponies coach John Scanlon said. “The 75 by Tyler and the 73s by Brendon and Parker were outstanding.”

Team standings

1. Edina 285-296—581; 2. Alexandria 285-307—592; 3. Stillwater 309-299—608; 4. Eau Claire Memorial 306-305—611; 5. Detroit Lakes 306-317—623; 6. Park 307-321—628; 7. Minnetonka 309-321—630; 8. Hudson 317-314—631; 9. White Bear Lake 306-326—632; 10. Amery 317-322—639; 11, tie, Farmington 319-326—645 and Woodbury 321-324—645; 13. Lakeland Union 321-331—652; 14. Duluth East 326-341—667; 15. East Ridge 326-345—671; 16, tie, Hopkins 323-349—672 and Mosinee 331-341—672; 18. Prescott 328-361—689; 19. Ellsworth 367-400—767; Maple Grove 316 and Rogers 327.

Stillwater results

(par 72-72—144)

The Royal: Tyler Coleman 75, David Calderone 77, John Lillie 77, Gavin Salazar 80, Jeremiah Giacomini 81 and Axel Diehl 82; Troy Burne: Parker Trobec 73, Brendon Rickheim 73, Dane Berggren 76, Zeke Roberts 77, Ryan Stanek 79 and Luke Myers 81. Top 3 — 1. Jimmy Abdo (Ed) 65-73—138; 2, tie, Jack Holtz (Alex) 68-72—140 and Carter Spalding (Wo) 68-72—140.

Ponies finish second

At St. Paul, after receiving a surprising boost in the Suburban East Conference standings, the Ponies followed with a runner-up finish to Cretin-Derham Hall on Monday, April 29 at Midland Hills Country Club.

The Raiders outdistanced Stillwater 292-307 to win the meet while White Bear Lake followed in third with a total of 312.

Cretin-Derham Hall has been the top team in the conference by a comfortable margin, but the Raiders slipped out of first place following a disqualification in the team’s apparent conference victory as part of the East Ridge Invitational on April 24 at StoneRidge Golf Club.

In that event, four groups mistakenly played from the incorrect tees which led in the disqualification of Cretin-Derham Hall, Hudson, Rogers and Roseville. It also resulted in zero conference points being awarded to the SEC teams, which knocked Cretin-Derham Hall out of first place despite its first-place finishes at Stillwater Country Club on April 22 and Midland Hills.

With two conference matches and the SEC tournament (which doubles the available points) remaining, the Ponies hold a 25-22 lead over second-place White Bear Lake while Cretin-Derham Hall and Park are tied for third with 18 points.

Stillwater controls its own destiny in the conference chase, but there is little margin for error.

Just five shots separated Stillwater’s top four finishers at Midland Hills. Luke Myers set the pace with a 74 while Ryan Stanek finished two shots back at 76. Dane Berggren (78) and Parker Trobec (79) completed the scoring, followed by Brendon Rickheim (80) and Zeke Roberts (82).

Miles Bollinger of Cretin-Derham Hall was the individual medalist with a 2-under par 70.

Team standings

1. Cretin-Derham Hall 292; 2. Stillwater 307; 3. White Bear Lake 312; 4. Park 316; 5. Woodbury 324; 6. East Ridge 324; 7. Mounds View 329; 8. Roseville 335; 9. Irondale 336; 10. Forest Lake 337.

Stillwater results (par 72)

Luke Myers 74, Ryan Stanek 76, Dane Berggren 78, Parker Trobec 79, Brendon Rickheim 80 and Zeke Roberts 82. Medalist — 1. Miles Bollinger (C-DH) 70.

SEC standings

1. Stillwater 25; 2. White Bear Lake 22; 3, tie, Cretin-Derham Hall 18 and Park 18; 5, tie, East Ridge 13 and Mounds View 13; 7. Irondale 10; 8. Woodbury 9; 9, tie, Forest Lake 3 and Roseville 3.

Ponies ninth at Preview

At Brooklyn Park, in a field that included some of the top teams in the state, Stillwater placed ninth out of 18 teams in The Preview on April 26-27 at Edinburgh USA Golf Course.

Spring Lake Park posted a score of 280 in the second round to seize the top spot with a two-day total of 588 to overtake runner-upu Cretin-Derham Hall (301-294—595) by seven shots. Holy Family and Maple Grove tied for third at 610.

The Ponies were steady while turning scores of 312 and 309 to finish at 621 overall.

Zeke Roberts improved by five shots on Day 2 to finish in a tie for seventh place in the individual standings with a score of 147 (76-71).

A triple-bogey 7 on the notorious 17th hole at Edinburgh in the opening round didn’t derail Roberts the rest of the way.

“He overcame the triple with steady pars and birdies,” Ponies coach John Scanlon said. “He is an elite player.”

Luke Myers was next for the Ponies in a tie for 28th at 154 (76-78). Dane Berggren (79-82—161) and Tyler Coleman (81-84—165) also played both days and finished 52nd and 57th. Ryan Stanek added a 78 in the second round after Parker Trobec shot an 84 on the first day.

“The Ponies showed they belong among the state’s best teams,” Scanlon said. “For some reason, the weather is always challenging and Edinburgh is always a test.”

Team standings

1. Spring Lake Park 308-280—588; 2. Cretin-Derham Hall 301-294—595; 3, tie, Holy Family 305-305—610 and Maple Grove 310-300—610; 5. Totino-Grace 319-292—611; 6, tie, Benilde-St. Margaret’s 308-306—614 and Rosemount 308-306—614; 8. Chanhassen 316-301—617; 9. Stillwater 312-309—621; 10. Eden Prairie 328-299—627; 11. Mahtomedi 323-308—631; 12, tie, Minnetonka 328-317—645 and White Bear Lake 326-319—645; 14, tie, Cloquet-Esko-Carlton 337-320—657 and Farmington 341-316—657; 16. St. Louis Park 339-319—658; 17. Wayzata 335-325—660; 18. Rochester Century 343-320—663.

Stillwater results (par 72)

T7. Zeke Roberts 76-71—147; T28. Luke Myers 76-78—154; 52. Dane Berggren 79-82—161; T57. Tyler Coleman 81-84—165; Ryan Stanek x-78—78 and Parker Trobec 84-x—84. Medalist — 1. Joe Honsa (C-DH) 69-72—141; 2. Chase Birdwell (SLP) 76-66—142; 3. Jake Birdwell (SLP) 75-68—143.