Journal File Photo Springfield’s Makenna Winkelman tees off at North Links Country Club during the Section 2A golf meet. The Tigers are making a return trip to the Class A girls’ state golf meet beginning on Tuesday in Becker.

BECKER — With plenty of experience under their belts, both the Sleepy Eye United boys’ and Springfield girls’ golf teams are eyeing state titles.

Sleepy Eye United finished fourth and Springfield finished fifth at last year’s Class A state golf meet at Pebble Creek Golf Course in Becker, so obviously the next step is to place higher – and the top sounds good.

“We’re expecting to win it,” SEU senior Caleb Christensen said. “We think we’re competitive, our scores have been competitive. Hopefully Ben [Laffen] and I can play well and lead the team. I think it’ll be a lot of fun.”

Last year’s fifth-place finish for Springfield was deceptive in that the No. 2-6 teams were separated by a total of 24 strokes. Springfield itself had a 742, which was 18 away from overtaking second-place Windom Area.

With that in perspective, a higher finish – and even a state title – is definitely not out of the question for the Tigers.

“I know we’re really going to work on our short game – putting especially,” senior Callie Wersal said. “We kind of struggled on these greens [at the Section 2A meet in North Mankato] because back home our greens aren’t as quick. So that’s one thing we’ll definitely focus on is getting used to the speed and playing the breaks.”

All season long, Springfield has had at least five girls post top-tier scores consistently. With this being its third-straight trip to state as a team, the experience needed is there.

“Our team gels really well together and I’m really excited to see what happens this year,” said Wersal, who finished fourth overall at last year’s state meet.

Sleepy Eye United, however, has two consistent golfers in Christensen and Laffen as well as a myriad of youngsters who can step up in any given occasion. Laffen said if he and Christensen can get said youngsters tuned into how to play the course at Pebble Creek, Sleepy Eye United should be competitive.

“It’s a very fun course – a lot of scoring holes but there’s also a lot of trouble,” said Laffen, who finished tied for sixth last year. “I just want to make sure I fix some little things in my swing and go up there and swing confidently.”

Individually, Luke Gartner joins Sam Pfingsten as qualifiers for Minnesota Valley Lutheran. Gartner won a playoff at the Section 2A meet to qualify.

“We’re going to go up there and make each other better and prepare each other so we both play as well as we can,” Gartner said.

Because Pfingsten has already played at state – finishing tied for 34th – his insight will be key for Gartner.

“He’s the one who’s been there, so I’ll definitely be relying on him for stuff,” Gartner said. “He’ll have opinions on stuff and I’ll listen.”

Seventh-grader Kayla Goblirsch qualified for New Ulm Cathedral in her first season playing varsity golf. This experience will be key for Goblirsch’s development as she progresses on varsity.

“It is nerve-wracking,” Goblirsch said. “But after the first hole is done, it gets better.”

Erica Bock of Cedar Mountain also qualified individually on the girls’ side. Sam Kretsch of Springfield and Garrett Sagedahl of Wabasso qualified on the boys’ side individually.

The Class A state golf meet will be held June 13-14 at Pebble Creek Golf Course in Becker.