HARRISBURG, S.D. — The Mitchell High School girls golf team made quite the debut to their 2023 season on Thursday afternoon.
In its first action of the season, the Kernels won Harrisburg Invitational team title by nearly 20 strokes, broke the school team scoring record by 15 shots and saw junior Allison Meyerink earn a share of the individual championship at Spring Creek Golf Course. It was an effort that coach Jeff Meyerink described as "incredible golf today in that wind."
All six Kernels finished tied for 12th or better among the 74 competitors who finished the round, as Mitchell ended the day at 310 and edged second-place Aberdeen Central by 19 strokes and third-place O’Gorman by 31 shots.
Mitchell's previous school record was 325, and the Kernels' season low last season was 326 at the state tournament, where they earned second place.
Allison Meyerink shot a 2-over, 73 to finish tied for first with Aberdeen Central’s Olivia Braun. Meyerink, who started at Hole No. 15, bounced back from an opening bogey to pick up three birdies in her next 10 holes and finished 1-under-34 on the front nine of the course, and then played the final five holes of her day at 2-over-par.
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Sophomore Ava Eliason was one of four Kernels to shoot a personal-best round on Thursday, carding a 78, good for fourth place. Eliason finished the front nine at even-par, with three birdies. Maddie Childs' shot 79 on her round and tied for fifth place. Quinn Dannenbring was one stroke behind Childs, tying for eighth with an 80, while Jayli Rients and Lara Widstrom each shot an 84 to tie for 12th.
The Kernels are back in action Tuesday, April 18, at Broadland Creek Golf Course in Huron for the Huron Triangular.
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