BHS takes 11th at Pines Invite

Dustin Vickerman is a champion without a tournament.

The junior on the Brainerd Warriors boys' golf team was the two-time defending champion of the Warrior Coed Classic held at Madden's Resort.

The tournament wasn't scheduled this year leaving Vickerman in search of a new tournament to dominate.

Unfortunately for Vickerman and the rest of the Warrior boys' team, Wednesday's Pines Invite at Grand View Lodge wasn't that tournament.

The Brainerd varsity shot 326 to finish 11th in the 21-team event. The Brainerd junior varsity was 12th with a 330.

Vickerman's 77 led the team, but he's still upset about not being able to defend his title at the Classic.

"I suppose I'll have to look for another tournament," said the junior. "I am happy that I went down as the last champion."

Vickerman shot 40 on the Woods nine and 37 on the Lakes nine to grab his 77.

"I got my drives together later on in the round," said Vickerman. "I'm not putting very good. I'm making short putts that I needed to, but nothing real long."

Vickerman was looking to shoot in the 70s Wednesday, but lower than his 77. He's been the most consistent Warrior averaging around 77, but he knows he needs to shoot lower.

"We're trying to get up there in the standings," said Vickerman. "We're actually doing pretty decent. We're right on the edge of being good and competing with Tech and Alexandria.

"We can't get all of us to shoot good scores at the same time for some reason. I think eventually we'll get up there and start competing."

Despite 76-degree temperatures and calm winds, Brainerd couldn't complete with Alexandria and St. Cloud Tech. Both teams fired 307s with Alex winning the tie breaker. Stillwater and Chaska tied for third with 308.

"I think they can certainly play better," said Warriors coach Brian Wallace. "They're a lot more capable than what they're showing. I'm just looking forward to the day when they put it all together and score well together.

"It's crazy that they can't put it all together when it comes time in a meet situation. They have to figure that out and be able to score well on the day of the meet."

Warrior Freshman Jared Hoppe carded an 81 followed by Jase Renneke's 83. Zach Lundbohm and Clinton Strother tied with 85s.

Tom Boyer's 79 led Brainerd's junior varsity. Mitch Means shot 81.

Tech's Jon Sauer won the individual tournament shooting an even-par 72. Vickerman missed the top-10 by one stroke as did Jeremy Nuehring of Little Falls.

Neuhring's 77 led the Flyers to 16th.

"What it comes down to is a lot of confidence when it comes to their putting," said Wallace. "They always come in and say they missed three or four short putts.

"Our kids are just as capable. I've seen them play that well. I've seen them score that well. If it all comes together in one day, then we'll be a force to reckon with."

Brainerd has never won the Pines Invite. The last area team to win the tournament was Staples in 1989.

Team scores -- 1-Alexandria 307, 2-St. Cloud Tech 307, 3t-Stillwater 308, 3t-Chaska 308, 5-Detroit Lakes 314, 6-Minnetonka 316, 7-Sauk Rapids 319, 8-Fergus Falls 121, 9-Edina 324, 10-Moorhead 325, 11-Brainerd Blue 326, 12-Brainerd White 330, 13t-Willmar 331, 13t-Sartell 331, 15-Mounds View 333, 16-Little Falls 334, 17-St. Cloud Apollo 336, 18-Robbinsdale-Armstrong 338, 19-Bemidji 339, 20-Roseville 343, 21-Rocori 351

Individual medalist -- Jon Sauer (Tech) 72

Top 10 -- 2-Ryan Smith (Chaska) 73, 3t-Devin Fure (Still) 74, 3t-Kurt Christenson (DL), 5-Mike Kulzer (SR) 75, 6t-Peter Adul (SR) 76, 6t-Bryce Hamstad (Alex) 76, 6t-Grant Hanson (Alex) 76, 6t-Jordy Christian (Moor) 76, 6t-Chad Bischoff (Still) 76

Brainerd Blue results -- Dustin Vickerman 77, Jared Hoppe 81, Jase Renneke 83, Zach Lundbohm 85, Clinton Strother 85, Lucas Brick 90

Brainerd White results -- Tom Boyer 79, Mitch Means 81, Spencer Sundberg 85, Landon Snider 85, Jeremy Pitt 88, Matt Anderson 90

Little Falls results -- Jeremy Nuehring 77, Bjorn Hedman 79, Joey Cotton 85, Rod Wilzek 92, Matt Baum 93, Todd Anderson 100

Next meet -- Brainerd in St. Cloud Invitational at Greystone, 9 a.m. Saturday.

JEREMY MILLSOP can be reached at jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5856.