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NSC Meet at Bunker Hills

Without a ray of sun in sight and a brisk wind swirling all around them, the young North Branch girls golf team attempted to have a strong showing at their first 18-hole North Suburban Conference event of the year.

At Bunker Hills for the day, the Vikings finished in seventh place out of nine total teams with a team score of 471. Benilde-St. Margaret's won the event with a 390 and Irondale was just a smidge behind them with a 391.

Junior Lauren Ibinger paced the Vikings, carding a 104 on the day, which was by far North Branch's best score. Hannah Gomes came in with a 118, Sarah Harris scored a 124, Mallory Olson had a 125 and Janice Elkerton carded a 133.

"It was really cold on Monday at Bunker and the kids were out there a long time. We had our best nine-hole score of the season (227) on the east course," Head Coach Dave Ambers explained. "Lauren earned our first score below 50 on that same nine and Mallory Olson had her best round of the year. We struggled on the west course. But, that's not too surprising. We don't play many 18-hole events and the girls were all cold and tired by the time they finished."

NSC Meet at Victory Links

On the next day, the Vikings had to travel west again, this time suiting up for a meet at Victory Links for a nine-hole contest.

North Branch moved up a spot in the standings from their 18-hole meet, finishing in sixth place, just barely topping county rival Chisago Lakes. North Branch carded a 237 while Chisago Lakes came in behind with a 238.

Ibinger was again the top scorer for North Branch, scoring a 51 in nine holes. Gomes and Olson each carded a 60 while Elkerton had a 66 and Harris had a 71.

"It was still cool on Tuesday at Victory Links. It was probably in the mid 50's, but the sun was out and it was the one of the calmest days we've ever played at Victory," Ambers said after the tough two-day stretch which had the girls play 36 holes in 24 hours. "Hannah Gomes and Lauren continued their consistent play. For the second consecutive day, we finished seventh, after finishing eighth in our first two conference meets."

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