Bowyer is 3A champ; state meet next week

Her goal was to finish in the top five at the Section 3A girls' golf meet last Wednesday, while also just having fun.
Mission accomplished.
Minneota junior Lauren Bowyer not only finished in the top five at Worthington Golf Course, but she also steamrolled the competition and finished 13 strokes ahead of the next nearest competitor.
"I had so much fun," said the personable daughter of John and Penny Bowyer of Ivanhoe. "I just wanted to avoid the trees, try to finish in the top five and have fun. I really like the (Worthington) course because it's very challenging with a lot of trees and sand. I like to challenge myself."
Bowyer now advances to the Class A state meet June 15-16 at Pebble Creek Golf Course in Becker.
Adrian-Ellsworth won the team competition with an 826. Heron Lake-Okabena-Lakefield was second with 848 and Hills-Beaver Creek third with 936. The winning team and the next top five individuals advance to the state meet.
Bowyer shot a 94 and led the Section 3A field after the first round on Wednesday, but never cooled off despite a weeklong gap in between rounds. In fact, she played even better in the second round, shooting a blistering 87 to run away from the field with a 181. Ellyson Bang of Heron Lake-Okabena-Lakefield was the next nearest competitor with a 194.
"Lauren has had a great season and has worked hard on improving her game," said Minneota coach Nicole Evers. "Her strength is her long game. She is great off the tee,"
Minneota junior Jeren Rost shot rounds of 106 and 109, finishing in 12th place and missed qualifying for state by only two strokes.
Bowyer and Rost are the only varsity players on the depleted Minneota team. Their success, however, may influence others to join.
"I miss not having a team," Bowyer said. "I think we could have a pretty good team if we get some others to join."
Bowyer stands only 5-foot-4; playing a sport that golf experts say the taller the person, the more leverage they generate when hitting the ball.
"Yeah, I've heard that before, too. But when I tee the ball up and hit it just right, it's 'Downtown Charlie Brown," Bowyer said with a laugh. "Hitting for distance is the best part of my game."
Bowyer's drive on No. 16 in the second round of the 3A meet traveled 230 yards. She averages just over 200 yards per drive.
"Even when Lauren felt as if she didn't hit the ball well, she was still in great position to approach the green," Evers said. "She had a great section tournament. I am proud of her accomplishments so far and am excited for her to experience state golf."
Bowyer began playing golf in sixth grade when her grandmother, Karen Bowyer, took her out to the course.
"She lives in Wisconsin and comes down in the summer," Bowyer explained. "She golfs all the time, so you asked me to go out with her. I've loved it ever since."
Bowyer's low round at Countryside Golf Club in Minneota is 45. Her lowest round on any course is a 40 that she shot at the Interstate Challenge, a summer tournament in Hendricks.
Her goal at state is as simple as it was for section.
"I am so excited to be playing with the best golfers in the state," she said. "I want to stay humble, try to finish in the top 15 or 20, and to have fun. It seems that the more fun I have, the better I play."
She must be having a ball then.