Glenn Walls and Derek Riley are excited and prepared for their first state golf competition, even though they would like to be there on different terms.
“Me and Riles are pretty excited to go. We wanted the team, but we’re going to go down there and play like it’s just a normal round of golf,” Walls said. “ ... It’ll be fun.”
Walls and Riley, both sophomores, qualified for state at the Section 7AA meet at The Quarry at Giants Ridge. The Class 2A state meet will be at the Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan. Riley tees off today at 7:48 a.m., while Walls tees off at 8:06 a.m. However they finish today will determine Thursday’s tee times.
“I guess the course is pretty tough with really fast split greens,” Walls said. “Just hoping to get used to them quick and adjust from the Falls.”
Andrew Oakes of Hermantown is the highest returning qualifier in the individual competition. Oakes tied for runner-up honors last year, while three other medal winners return, as well.
Jordan Priem of Long Prairie-Grey Eagle, Dan Bidle of Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl and Myles Pfingsten of Fairmont all finished tied for sixth last year.
Walls, who won four tournaments this year and was consistently the Broncos’ No. 1 golfer, enters the state meet with the third lowest average in Class 2A, according to the Minnesota Golf Coaches Association High School rankings. His 73.6 trailed only Red Wing’s Mark Giorgi and St. Cloud Cathedral’s Nathan Hoefflin, who both sat at 73.2 when the final rankings came out May 16.
Walls’ goal?
“Just to have two solid days of golf. I may not win or do whatever, but that’s my goal,” he said. “I just want to have two good days of golf. Hopefully Riles will, too.”
Riley, whose average is around 79 this season, echoed Walls’ sentiment.
“Just post two good scores. Try and finish at a pretty good number,” said Riley, who isn’t even worried, even though it’s the first state competition for both Broncos.
“Actually not really. I actually feel really confident,” Riley said. “I don’t want to post a really bad score, but there’s nothing to lose really.”
