Boys Golf: Park Rapids Season Proved Challenging – Park Rapids Enterprise

PARK RAPIDS – With only one regular starter back, head coach Jeff Anderson expected this to be a challenging season for the Park Rapids boys golf team.

Senior Conner Hanson was the only regular player from a season ago. Seniors Jack Moses and Blake Morris and junior Aiden Maanum also returned with some varsity experience.

In addition to those four, senior Austin Gamache and freshman Jack Christensen would make up the varsity squad for the majority of the season. Junior Peter Carroll and freshman Parker Larson also saw some varsity time.

Filling five starting spots proved difficult as the Panthers finished in the middle of the pack in Northern Pines Conference play and failed to advance as an individual or team to the final round of the Section 8AA tournament.

The Panthers tied for fourth place through the first three NPC rounds, starting with rounds of 180 up front and 186 down back at Walker’s Tianna Country Club. Christensen’s 43, Maanum’s 44, Moses’ 46 and Morris’ 47 led the Panthers up front, while Morris’ 45, Moses’ 46, Gamache’s 47 and Maanum’s 48 set the pace up back.

In the next NPC event at Sandtrap Golf Course in Cass Lake, Christensen’s 40, Hanson’s 45 and two 47s from Maanum and Morris were the best, while Park Rapids posted a score of 179.

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At Bigfork’s Golf on the Edge, the Panthers finished in sixth place with a score of 179. Christensen scored 42, Hanson and Morris scored 43 and Maanum, Moses and Gamache scored 51.

Walker’s LongBow Golf Course hosted the next NPC meeting, with Park Rapids finishing seventh in both rounds. A pair of 46s from Hanson and Christensen, a 48 from Maanum and a 49 from Moses resulted in a 189, while 44s from Hanson, Christensen and Moses and a 49 from Maanum resulted in a 181 on the back.

Tianna hosted the final NPC meet, with the Panthers claiming second place with a 178 behind Christensen’s 42, a pair of 45s from Hanson and Maanum, and a 46 from Moses. On the back end, Christensen’s 45, Moses’ 46, Morris’ 48, and Hanson’s 49 led to a 188 and sixth place.

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Christensen averaged 43.9 in eight matches to earn NPC Second Team honors. Morris averaged 46.2 in six matches, Hanson averaged 46.4 in eight matches, Moses finished with a 46.9 average in seven matches, Maanum averaged 47.8 in eight matches, and Gamache averaged 54.2 in six matches. Larson averaged 57.7 in three matches, and Carroll averaged 59.0 in two matches. Walker-Hackensack-Akeley won all eight NPC matches.

In the season-opening Wolf Pack Invitational in Tianna, Park Rapids finished eighth of 12 teams with a 385, led by Christensen’s 88, Hanson’s 98, Moses’ 99 and Morris’ 100. Staples-Motley took first with a 318.

Hawley shot 318 to claim the title at the 19-team Park Rapids Invitational at Headwaters Golf Club. Morris’ 91, Christensen’s 92, Maanum’s 96 and Hanson’s 100 gave the Panthers a 379 for 15th place.

Contributed / Caulfield Studio

Christensen’s 93, Morris’ 96, Maanum’s 97 and Hanson’s 99 gave the Panthers a 385 for 12th place at the Bemidji Invitational at Bemidji Town and Country Club. Bemidji led the pack with a 306.

A pair of 90s from Hanson and Christensen, a 93 from Moses and a 97 from Maanum resulted in a 370 for sixth place at the 11-team John Kirk Invitational at LongBow. WHA posted a winning score of 295.

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Christensen earned all-conference honors with an 81 as Park Rapids finished third at the Mid-State Conference meet in Crosby with a 351. Maanum’s 88 and Hanson’s 90 earned all-conference honorable mentions while Moses’ 92 completed the Panthers’ best round of the season. Morris had a 94 and Gamache added a 106 as Staples-Motley’s 299 topped the four-team field on their home course at The Vintage.

The Panthers missed the finals of the Section 8AA tournament at Bemidji Town and Country Club after finishing 13th in the first round. Christensen and Morris had 91s, Hanson had a 92 and Moses had a 96. Manum’s 104 and Gamache’s 105 rounded out Park Rapids’ team score. Detroit Lakes won the section title.

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In the 18-hole tournament, Christensen led the Panthers with an 89.0 average in five rounds. Morris (94.4 average), Hanson (95.8 average), Maanum (97.2 average), Moses (98.6 average) and Gamache (105.2 average) also played five rounds. Those six were the only letter winners.

Hanson was named the Panthers’ MVP and Morris earned the team’s Most Improved honor. Hanson, Morris and Christensen served as captains.

The Panthers will be in a similar situation next season with four first-team spots to fill.

“I knew it was going to be a tough year,” Anderson said. “We’re losing four (of our varsity golfers), so I expect next season to be a year of improvement.”

Vance Carlson / Company

1982 Graduated from Dawson-Boyd High School
Graduated from Moorhead State University in 1987
Sports reporter for Park Rapids Enterprise since 1987