May 16, 2011

and the weather may have won.

Wayzata managed to come from behind to take the crown at Wedgewood Cove GC - the host course for the second round of the Albert Lea Invite. Rogers posted a 299 at the first round site, Green Lea GC, largely because of a career low round of even par 72 by Morgan Rask. Mac Buege contributed with a 73. The opening eighteen holes was played in cool temps and NW winds of 15-25 mph. If only the players and spectators knew how nice that would feel in contrast to what lie ahead.

Waking to a steady shower, wind, and temps in the 40's, the Royals moved to the less traditional, more technical, shot-placement course at Wedgewood cove. With hidden ponds lining both sides of many holes, a little course knowledge would have come in handy. Rain persisted throughout the round and the winds blew to 35 mph. The temps never got to fifty degrees. It was, by far, the worst playing conditions in recent memory.

Buege led the Royals with a 76, more fortunate than most of his teammates by finding just two of the indiscriminate ponds. Rask tripled his second to last hole and had a quad on his second on the way to an 83. Rykal played solid in both rounds and finished 77-76-153. Muenzhuber struggled most of the weekend and finished with a 158. Continuing the acquisition of valuable tournament experience was Andy Suedbeck and Zach Hnath. Rogers eventually succumbed and finished in a tie for second.

This year has had a collection of some of the worst spring weather for golf. The Royals continue to prove they are often one player away in most rounds from competing against the state's best teams. Last year they seemed to have all the ingredients throughout the year and yet fell short at state. Can the challenging spring weather accelerate the seasoning necessary to take the next step? If it does, Saturday's weather would be worth the discomfort.