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The Viking girls' golf team continued to show improvement last week. Tuesday, May 6 NB recorded a 222 at the long, hilly, wet Columbia Golf Course in Minneapolis. At the wide open Victory Links course in Blaine, the girls carded a season-best 210 Thursday, May 8.

Despite a steady rain, the Vikings navigated the 2800 yards on the back nine at Columbia just one stroke above their season low. Sophomores Katie Foley (49), Emily Juve (55) and Laurel Dresel (56) led the way for the Vikings. Eighth grader Cassedy Coleman's 62 rounded out the scoring for NB. Coleman's classmate Lauren Ibinger carded a 67 to complete the North Branch scorecard.

Team Results

Irondale 175

Benilde-St. Margaret's 184

Spring Lake Park 197

Chisago Lakes 212

St. Louis Park 212

St. Francis 215

Totino-Grace 220

North Branch 222

Fridley 254

The nine North Suburban Conference teams met in drier conditions Thursday at Victory Links. The wide-open, links style course played more easily than it usually does because of the relative calm.

The Vikings took advantage of the conditions to finish 11 strokes below their previous season low. As usual, Foley led with another 49. Juve (50) and Coleman (56) established new personal bests and Dresel matched her Tuesday score. Ibinger finished with a 68 and ninth grader Rachel Aho recorded a 73 in her second appearance on varsity.

Team Results

Irondale 162

Benilde-St. Margaret's 173

Spring Lake Park 188

St. Francis 193

Chisago Lakes 194

Totino-Grace 202

St. Louis Park 207

North Branch 210

Fridley 272

"These girls are starting to surprise even themselves," said Viking coach Dave Ambers. "We had pretty modest goals at the beginning of the year. In our first meets we were just happy to finish before dark. But, with the scores they've been posting the last few times out, I think they're starting to believe in themselves.

"As anyone who's golfed can tell you, a whole lot of the golf game is played from the neck up. So far, we've managed to beat only one team, but we're closing in on some of the others. Once the girls gain the confidence and experience they need to improve, we'll have the potential to threaten some of the other teams in the NSC," Ambers concluded.

The Vikings were scheduled to complete their conference season with 18 holes at Pebble Creek in Becker today, Thursday, May 15. Then, they play in the Section 7AAA Meet at Grand National in Hinckley Wednesday, May 21. Tee times start at 11:30.

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