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BECKER — There she was, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton junior Teigyn O’Leary standing among the state’s best in Class A girls golf at Pebble Creek.
A Minnesota State High School League official presented O’Leary with her medal after a scorching performance — tying for seventh place overall with two other golfers (Alyssa Swedzinski from state team champion Dawson-Boyd and Kianna Johnson of powerhouse Walker-Hackensack-Akeley).
“It’s a tough course,” said RTR head coach Tim O’Leary, Teigyn’s father. “Teigyn hit it really straight with her driver both days. She played well.”
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton’s Teigyn O’Leary tees off during her round at the Minnesota State High School League Class A girls tournament at Pebble Creek in Becker on Wednesday, June 11. (Contributed photo from Samantha Davis/Marshall Independent)
Teigyn O’Leary’s second-round 81 is a personal-best score, and she carded her first-ever 36 on the front nine. Bolstering that score was a classy birdie on Hole No. 8 (a par-four which measures 286 yards).
Overall, O’Leary posted a 25-over par 189. Dawson-Boyd senior Lindsey Lund captured overall medalist honor with an eight-over par 152.
“Finishing among the top-10 in the state was a big accomplishment,” said Teigyn O’Leary in an email to the Pipestone County Star. “I couldn’t have done it without the support of my teammates and coaches. This is something I will always be proud of. It also showed me that all the time and hard work I put into the game is worth it.”
Pebble Creek is a challenge, and Teigyn reported that “staying in the fairway is crucial because the rough is not always easy to hit out from.”
There was little second-guessing going on for O’Leary, who watched older sister Shae O’Leary place 17th during the 34-hole 2024 tournament.
O’Leary’s opening round featured back-to-back birdies on Holes Nos. 14-15. Teigyn also parred two holes, and bogeyed 11 others. Her second round was composed of that birdie, nine pars and six bogeys.
“My golf game has improved a lot over the past year,” Teigyn O’Leary said. “I focused on staying consistent with my swing, which led to me being more accurate with the distance I was hitting the ball.”
Consistency bred confidence, she added.
Teammate Jenna Gossen, another multiple-time state qualifier, finished 56th all by herself in a field of 85 entrants.
For Gossen, this marked her final scholastic tournament. She will attend South Dakota State University in Brookings, S.D., with the first day of fall semester set for Aug. 25.
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton’s Jenna Gossen competed in her final scholastic golf tournament at the state Class A girls meet. (Contributed photo from Samantha Davis/Marshall Independent
During the first round, Gossen parred Hole No. 8, and she bogeyed eight other holes. Jenna showed consistency with 51s on both the front and back nine.
Gossen improved by five strokes during her second round, with three pars and eight bogeys — with a 199 total (55-over par).
Both O’Leary and Gossen are members at Tyler Golf Club, another factor in the pair’s betterment.
Dawson-Boyd recorded a 669 total (93-over par) for the team title; that was 18 strokes fewer than Park Christian, which is located in Moorhead.
Brockberg savors experience
JORDAN — Vivian Brockberg, a Pipestone Area Schools junior and member of Pipestone Country Club, placed in a three-way tie for 70th.
Brockberg’s two-day total was a 47-over par 191, which included an opening-round 91. She drew on the experience of competing at the state girls tennis tournament.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Vivian Brockberg uses a putter from light rough on Hole No. 3 at The Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan on Wednesday, June 11. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
“Participating in state tennis helped make it a lot less overwhelming,” she said. “There were amazing golfers. All of the other coaches, players and fans I had contact with were supportive and encouraging.”
Brockberg said playing the Ridges at Sand Creek improved her game.
“I had to think through every shot,” she said. “I couldn’t hit a drive off the tee every time, even on the par 5’s. Club selection and ball placement was extremely important on every hole.”
Brockberg commented that she felt prepared for the state tournament, and competing at such a prestigious event has only stoked the fire to burn brighter.
During the opening round Tuesday, Brockberg registered six pars and 10 bogeys, which included a 44 on the back nine capped by a par on the 416-yard Hole No. 18.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Vivian Brockberg fills out her scorecard while coach Grant Everson looks on. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
The second round was a bit more of a struggle for Brockberg, with just two pars and eight bogeys. She carded a front-nine 48 as part of her total score.
As explained in the name of the course, The Ridges features steep terrain changes and players were able to take a shuttle between select locations. Brockberg also endured through two early opening tee times before 8 a.m.
Genevieve Birkeland of Pequot Lakes was overall medalist (four-over par 148), and Hawley’s Sophie Cook was next (eight-over par 152). Detroit Lakes was nine strokes better than Minnewaska Area for the team championship, firing a composite 70-over par 646.
Rieck caps career
BECKER — Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton’s Gavin Rieck capped his athletic career in four-way tie for 39th in Class A boys at Pebble Creek (which measured 5,756 yards).
Rieck’s total was a 23-over par 167, tying Knox Larson from Martin County West, Eliot Carlson of PACT Charter and Kyden Kotrba from West Marshall. There was a field of 88 golfers.
Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton’s Gavin Rieck chips on Hole No. 18 at Pebble Creek in Becker. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
“State golf was such a fun experience,” said Rieck, who will be attending Dordt University and play for the Defender basketball program.
“I was very thankful for the opportunity God had given me to participate in this sport,” continued Rieck, who said he made countless friends and memories through golf.
Rieck said Pebble Creek was a “fun and strategic” course and the greens provided the biggest challenge. However, Wednesday’s rains slowed them down, which Rieck said helped during his second round.
Southwest Minnesota Christian’s Gavin Rieck congratulates other golfers at the conclusion of the second round. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
“I had to make sure I was under an umbrella, and had extra towels to dry my hands and clubs off throughout the majority of the round,” he said.
Rieck was especially proud of his lone birdie, on Hole No. 1 — a par-four covering 356 yards — during the opening round. He carded an 84, which included a front-nine 41. He finished with seven pars and seven bogeys.
In his second round, Rieck improved by one stroke and scored another 41 on the front. He parred 11 holes and bogeyed three others.
Rieck, like Brockberg, is a member of PCC.
Heritage Christian Academy junior Alex Rhode was the medalist with a two-over par 146. Walker-Hackensack-Akeley was the team champion with a total of 37-over par 613, 18 strokes fewer than Legacy Christian Academy (Andover).
The Minnesota State High School League. (Contributed graphic from MSHSL)