Laffen, making his fourth trip to the Class A boys’ golf state tournament this year, is bringing home two state titles — an individual title and a team title. Laffen had a two-day total of 144 and finished one stroke better than Khrystjan Petersen of Bethlehem Academy (145).

Laffen ends his high school career with a state championship, something he’s been chasing for a long time after coming so close the last couple of years. What’s even more remarkable is that he knew the pressure was on him and he delivered.

“It’s definitely a moment I’ll cherish forever,” he said. “I was told on the 16th hole that I had to make a birdie that I had to make a birdie within my last three-hole stretch when I was hitting my approach shot. I just had a lot of nerves, it came down to one putt and if I miss the putt, the team takes second and I tie for first. Luckily I made my putt for birdie. It was a lot on the line over one little putt.”

The SEU boys, who finished third a year ago, also took home the state title after tying for first place with Mounds Park Academy. Both teams had a two-day total of 641.

“Last year, we took third and we were really happy and this year, being tied after the first day, we were really hungry and we knew we had unfinished business,” Laffen said. 

For SEU, it was just a matter of playing it simple.

“The key was just playing it safe,” head coach Crystal Ibberson said. “Just taking it shot by shot, just knowing and being confident in their shot and taking it one shot at a time. They had some pretty good first rounds and then the second nine they blew up a bit. We talked a little bit and I just told them to maintain their composure and just go out there an have fun.”

Laffen shot a 73 on Wednesday and a 71 on Tuesday and he entered Wednesday’s play three strokes behind Petersen, but he knew he was within striking distance.

“I came into the day three shots back, but after I shot 36 on the front and I went and looked at the board, I saw that he shot a 36, so I thought I had to kick it into gear.”

He did just that. He finished strong to reach the ultimate goal in high school golf, two championships in one season.

Besides Laffen, Logan Netzke shot a 164 to finish 25th overall and Andrew Neid tied for 27th overall with a 166. Toby Weiss finished at 167, Thor Weiss finished with a 175 and Parker Landkammer finished with a 182.

“It feels good, just being a ninth-grader and winning state,” Netzke said. “Especially to have Ben leading us all the way there. I was very nervous, every shot I was just taking all the time to perfecting them.”

The title is special because the program merges the two schools in Sleepy Eye. Ibberson said that the town rallied behind the team and everyone was supportive all season long.

“It’s kind of surreal, but once again, they have worked so hard for this,” Ibberson said. ”As far as the community is concerned, it’s really cool because these boys are out on the course all the time. The following that they have from the community is extremely rewarding for them. They see them out on the course and they’re so supportive, it’s a really a good testament of what an awesome community we have and the support that we have.

“These boys have someone out there telling them nice job, or work on this, there’s so many people,” Ibberson said. “Sleepy Eye’s had a really good golf program for years, they’ve had teams go to state and individuals, it’s really nice to come back with this at this point. It’s very deserving.”

Springfield’s Mason Kretsch shot a 157 and tied for 10th overall. Minnesota Valley Lutheran’s Sam Pfingsten finished the tournament tied for 13th with a 159.

New Ulm Cathedral’s Ethan Kirchberg shot a 173 to finish tied for 41st and Wabasso’s Jacob Iverson finished with a 195.

Springfield girls finish 5th

The Springfield girls’ golf team finished fifth with a team score of 764. Lac qui Parle Valley won the event with a score of 714, one stroke ahead of Fillmore Central (715).

Mackenzie Lothert led the Tigers with a two-day total of 176 (89-87, 14th overall) and Makenna Winkelmann finished with a 180, 15th overall.

“I’m pretty pleased on the season, I think we set out and accomplished almost everything that we had at the beginning of the season,” Springfield coach Dillon Schultz said. 

Anna Plotz shot a combined 195 (39th overall) and Lacole Weisensel shot a 213 over the two-day event.

New Ulm Cathedral’s Kayla Goblrisch shot a two-day total of 181, which was tied for 20th overall. Cedar Mountain’s Erika Bock shot a 214 and Schaylee Schiller shot a 219.