The Village Viking boys golf team advanced to the State Golf Tournament for the first time in school history. Looking back at their journey to get there, the boys finished 3rd at the District Tournament, the Vikings headed into the Regional Tournament seeded 5th out of 8 teams, with the top 4 advancing to State. The Vikings played incredible golf, breaking a school record by scoring 323 and finishing 2nd place at the Regional Tournament. The Vikings were led by Seniors, Ross B and Fraser K, who both finished top 10 overall. The girls team also qualified Mariana O as a medalist, who finished 8th at the Regional Tournament, and was headed back to the State Tournament for the second straight year.

At the State Tournament, the boys team was seeded 6th out of 8 teams based on Regional Tournament scores. Day 1 of the State Tournament was certainly a challenge for everyone who competed. With temperatures in the low 50’s, strong winds, and rain early on which took the golfers off the course for over an hour, the elements were certainly a force to be reckoned with. Everyone’s scores were higher and it was tough to score. After Day 1, the Vikings were in 6th place, but were within striking distance and single digit strokes away from the 5th and 4th place teams. Day 2 of the State Tournament was a much more enjoyable round with scoring friendly conditions. The temperatures reach the low 70’s, with little wind, and the sun shining. With that said, the Vikings improved on their first round score, but it wasn’t enough to make up the difference and finished 6th in State. Mariana also improved on her first round score, and shot a 94 on Day 2, with a 43 on the back 9.

In the middle of all the action, was senior and two-time State Soccer Champion, Ross B. Ross shot a 79 on Day 1 of the State Tournament, which put him in 8th place. The top 10 golfers after the second round of the tournament would finish First Team All-State. Paired in the second group for the final round, Ross battled against some of the state’s best golfers, some of which who are already committed to top flight Universities on golf scholarships. Ross held his own and played beautiful golf. After an Even par front nine, Ross had some bad luck on the back nine and battled through adversity. After an unfortunate turn of events on hole 12, Ross had to re-tee after losing his ball in some thick rough that was just off the fairway. Ross was 6 over on his back 9 heading into the 16th hole. On the Par 3, 16th, Ross hit his tee shot just left of the green, but had a tough up and down to save par. After a beautiful pitch shot that left him with a 5 ft par putt, Ross buried it to save par. Clutch. On the Par 4, 17th, Ross hit a beautiful tee shot that split the fairway. His approach shot was just right of the green, which left him another delicate chip shot. Ross executed to perfection, and tapped in a par putt. With the par 5, 18th remaining, Ross was 6 over and needed to at least make par to have a chance to make All-State. Ross’ tee shot was solid, just off the fairway, but had a look at the green. Needing to make a move, Ross went for the green in two and ended up just left of the green, with a pitch shot over a bunker that needed to be executed. About to hit his 3rd shot, Ross pitched the ball up on the green, but left it about 40 feet from the hole. Not his best effort. At this point, you have to make sure that you make a nice lag putt, cozy it up by the hole, and take your par. Ross studied the putt from all sides of the hole. He committed to his line, stood over the ball, and struck it crisply. The ball started on a promising line with plenty of pace. About halfway towards the hole, you could tell that the ball was tracking nicely. It kept rolling, and rolling, and rolling, still on line. And then…IN IT WENT! On the final hole of his high school career, Ross B birdied the par 5, 18th hole to finish with a score of 77, tying the school record. At this point, we had to wait and see for the scores to come in. When it was all said and done, Ross tied for 9th place and finished All-State. That birdie putt on his last and final hole proved to be the clinching putt that secured an All-State finish. Cinderella ending for the young lad.