Holding a 5-stroke lead over the rest of the field on day one of the Section 7AA boys golf meet helped enable International Falls senior Brett Musich to overcome an 87 for 18 holes on day two Friday and still qualify for next week’s Class AA State Tournament.
Musich, who opened the tournament at Giants Ridge last Wednesday with a 70, ended up with a 36-hole total of 157 to place fourth individually.
On the front nine Friday, Falls head coach Bill Mason said Musich “got off to kind of a bad start” recording a triple bogey and going five-over par on the two par-three holes, ending up with a 48 going into the back nine.
However, Mason said Musich “kept his focus going” and carded a 39 for the final nine holes.
The golfer 5 strokes in back of Musich after day one, Hermantown senior Taylor Sundbom, carded a 71 on day two to place first individually at 146. Sundom’s senior teammate, Andy Krasaway, finished runner-up at 153. Virginia Senior Olaf Walkky came in third at 156, a stroke ahead of Musich.
Hermantown, which placed three of its golfers in the top 10, once again won the Section 7AA team title with a two-day total of 624 and qualified its entire team for the state meet, which will be held June 12-13 at the Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan.
Virginia, which led the team standings after day one, ended up finishing runner-up, 20 strokes behind Hermantown at 644. Hibbing came in third at 668, while the Falls finished fourth with 687.
The top team as well as the top-five individuals not on the winning team at each Section meet all qualify for the state meet.
The Broncos’ next best individual finish behind Musich was sophomore Brady Walls, who placed 17th with a two-day total of 174.
Musich had also qualified individually for the state meet his sophomore season and lost a playoff to do so at last year’s Section 7AA meet.
Mason said the “hard part’s done” for Musich, who will be able to “start from scratch at the state tournament” and focus on winning an individual medal.
“I think Brett can be right in the top seven,” Mason said.
Boys Section 7AA
Final results
Team scores: Hermantown 624, Virginia 644, Hibbing 668, International Falls 687.
Top individuals: 1. Taylor Sundbom, Hermantown, 146; 2. Andy Krasaway, Hermantown, 153; 3. Olaf Walkky, Virginia, 156; 4. Brett Musich, International Falls, 157; 5. Jon Rue, Hibbing, 158; 6. Dakota Lundstrom, Virginia, 160; 7. Trent Sundbom, Hermantown, 161; 8. Derek Farrell, Marshall, 162.
International Falls golfers: 4. Brett Musich, 157; 17. Brady Walls, 174; 33. Zach Manka, 180; 37. Eric Cann, 189; 40. Lucas DeBenedet, 194; 42. Wes Gunnerson, 203.
