The Agate Golf Team had a great turnout with 13 boys and 9 girls playing this season in what seemed like the earliest spring start.
With the mild winter, their first meet at Eveleth Golf Course on April 22nd was the earliest start of the season in many years. This was just a few days before their own golf course had opened. Qualification was done at Lakeview National with permission from their groundskeeper.
Despite the unusually warm winter, spring was very normal; cold, windy and raining – nothing unusual for Northern Minnesota.
The boys played in 11 meets, mostly held on the Iron Range. This is the Agate boys’ first year playing in the East Range Conference (ERC), which consists of 7 teams from Northeast MN.
The ERC had 8 meets this year, concluding with a final Conference Meet at Eagle Ridge in Coleraine, MN.
Cade Peterson, captain of the Agates team, placed fourth overall on the ERC All-Conference team. The team was formed based on scoring averages throughout all the meets. Cade obtained a 38.5 scoring average. He also took medalist honors, placed in the top 5 in most meets, and placed 3rd in the final meet at Eagle Ridge.
The Agates had some great scoring from other team members as well, including 8th graders Vaughn Christiansen and Kade Norman. Vaughn placed well in several meets, playing extremely well in the Hibbing Invite. Sophmore Josh Johnson also showed some amazing golf skills this season. Zack Libal made a lifetime shot at Giants Ridge (The Quarry) on hole #4, making his first hole in one. Other players making the Agates roster were Reese Radtke, Jake Stadler and Zack Bentler. Cade Peterson, Josh Johnson and Kade Norman all qualified for day two of sections.
Cade finished The Quarry’s tough back nine with a 37 to qualify for the State Tournament. Those who qualify for the State Tournament are very honored to play with the select few who make it. In the Agate’s section, only 11 players qualify. This season’s winning team, Cloquet, had 6 players qualify, leaving 5 individuals from other schools in the section. This included the Agate’s very own Cade Peterson, 2 players from Hermantown, 1 from Hibbing, and 1 from Greenway.
Cade played in the Class AA State Tournament on Wednesday, June 12, 2024 at the Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan, MN. The course boasts small, fast greens and pin placements similar to a U.S. Open prepped course. Among the tournament spectators were college coaches looking for future recruits. Cade was being scouted by a few of them.
Congratulations to the Agate Golf team on a fantastic season.
