The Superior High School boys golf team began defense of its Lake Superior Conference championship Wednesday afternoon at Northland Country Club in Duluth.
The Spartans, along with Hermantown, Duluth Marshall, Duluth Central, Duluth Denfeld, Cloquet and Ashland, played the first nine holes in the 36-hole conference schedule.
Hermantown jumped out to five-stroke lead after carding a 160. Duluth Marshall was second at 165, and Superior came in at 168.
"We are defending champions and have all but one golfer back from the team last year, however, we struggled Wednesday," SHS coach Ed Willie said. "Brian Crawford and Erik Gulbrandson shot well, but we were unable to post two more scores that matched our ability and keep us as the favorites to win the conference.
"Now we have a lot of work to do to defend our championship."
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Crawford carded a 38, one stroke behind Marshall's Joe Kozlak, who won medalist honors with a 37.
Gulbrandson finished with a 40, while teammates Rob Mihalek had a 47 and Steve Sitek at 43. Scott Rochon and Noah Gilbertson had non-counting scores of 48 and 49, respectively.
Round two of the LSC championships is at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Duluth's Enger Park.
Lake Superior Conference Meet
At Northland Country Club
First round
Boys
Team Results
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1. Hermantown, 160; 2. Duluth Marshall, 165; 3. Superior, 168; 4. Duluth Central, 169; 5. Duluth Denfeld, 171; 6. Cloquet, 180; 7. Ashland 196.
Individual Results
1. Joe Kozlak, Duluth Marshall, 37; 2. Brian Crawford, Superior, 38; 3. Blake Melin, Hermantown, 38.
