Girls Golf: Alexandria shakes off day one struggles to earn second at CLC Championship (2024)

After day one of the Central Lakes Conference Championship, the Alexandria girls golf team found itself in a hole down 25 strokes and fifth out of the eight teams in the conference.

But on day two, Alexandria stormed back by shooting the lowest round of the day (321) at the Wapicada Golf Club in St. Cloud on Wednesday, May 22, to finish second (663).

“I was very pleased with the way the players responded after their play on Monday,” Alexandria head coach Tim Zupfer said. “Sartell had a little too big of a lead after the first day to catch them. However, we were able to put a scare into them. Our team score was 11 shots better than our previous season's best team score. I believe this was our best-putting day of the season as a team.”

Sartell finished with a team total of 655. Sartell was led by Shayla Nordlund, who finished first overall on both days with rounds of 73.

Alexandria finished with four All-Central Lakes Conference players: Ellie Sticha, Rachel Bowen, Grace Herzog, and Cadence Simon.

Sticha finished fifth overall in the two-day tournament, while Bowen finished eighth, Herzog placed 11th, and Simon placed 12th.

Lexi Metcalf finished as an all-conference honorable mention by placing 18th.

On Wednesday, Alexandria’s Rachel Bowen and Grace Herzog both had rounds of 79, and both tied their season-best round.

Bowen had three birdies and six pars in her round, while Herzog had one birdie and nine pars.

“Rachel’s driver put her into a few tough spots, but she recovered nicely with a solid short game,” Zupfer said. “Grace had a solid ball-striking day carding.”

Simon had a personal best in round two, carding a round of 81.

“Cadence had a fun day on the course,” Zupfer said. “She started the round with a birdie on the first hole. Her round included one birdie, nine pars, and seven bogeys. She also led the team with only 29 putts for her round.”

Rounding on Alexandria’s scores on day two, Sticha had a round of 82, Metcalf had a round of 91, and Nora Steidl had a round of 104.

“Ellie played a good second nine (the front nine) after a rough start on her first nine,” Zupfer said. “Unfortunately, she had four penalty shots that cost her on her first nine. She did hit 9-of-18 greens in regulation and carded one birdie and 10 pars. Lexi was pleased with the way she hit her driver and her play from the bunkers. She was a little disappointed with her iron play. Her round included five pars. Nora struggled on the back nine but played reasonably well on the front nine (her second nine). She was pleased with the way she hit her irons. Her round included four pars.”

Alexandria is set to compete in the Section 8AAA Meet on May 29-30, at the Greystone Golf Club in Sauk Centre.

2024 Girls CLC Championship

Sam Stuve covers a variety of sports in the Douglas County area. He also is assigned to do some news stories as well.