File photo by Travis Rosenau Springfield’s Mavrick Winkelmann putts in the Tomahawk Conference meet earlier this season.

NORTH MANKATO — The Sleepy Eye United boys’ golf team found out the hard way how just one stroke can make a world of difference.

Springfield ended SEU’s four-year consecutive state tournament streak, edging the Indians 659-660 at the Section 2A boys’ golf meet at North Links Golf Course on Monday. United South Central finished third with a 678 and Madelia finished with a 680.

The Tigers were led by medalist Mason Kretsch, who finished with a two-day total of 156.

Kretsch finished 10th at last year’s state tournament.

“We were neck and neck all season, and then to finally get them, that was our goal, we were waiting for sections to play well and we did that,” Kretsch said.

It’s the third time going to the state meet for Kretsch, which takes place next Tuesday and Wednesday at Pebble Creek in Becker. But it’s the first time that he gets to go with the entire team. The last time the Tigers qualified as a team on the boys’ side was 2011, when the team brought home the championship trophy.

“Hopefully I can give them some advice with my experience,” Kretsch said. “That’ll be a lot of fun having my buddies up there.”

For the Tigers, Kretsch shot a 156, Mavrick Winkelmann a 164, Christopher Thram a 165 and Tim Rogotzke a 174. SEU was led by state qualifiers Andrew Neid (164) and Logan Netzke (165), who beat out New Ulm Cathedral’s Ethan Kirchberg in a playoff for the final individual state qualifier.

Thor Weiss (168) and Toby Weiss (169) also figured into SEU’s team total.

Madelia was led by Carson Wihlm, who qualified for the state tournament as an individual with a score of 160. New Ulm Cathedral’s Logan Haala also qualified as an individual with a 158 and United South Central’s Andrew Heggen qualified with a 158.

On the girls’ side, a familiar name for the Springfield is making her fourth trip to the state meet. Mackenzie Lothert qualified individually after finishing 14th at last year’s state tournament. She shot a 188 over the two-day section meet and she’s already looking forward to next Tuesday for her final trip to Becker as a high school golfer.

“I think what I’m going to use to my advantage is just knowing what shots I’m going to take advantage of, and what holes I can play smart and what holes I can take risks with,” Lothert said. “That’s a big part of golf being able to take risks and being able to pull it off. It’s just knowing where you can make up shots on people.”

New Ulm Cathedral freshman Kayla Goblirsch is no stranger to the state tournament and the course at Pebble Creek. She took medalist honors with a score of 158.

Just a freshman, she’s going to the Class A state meet for the third time.

“I knew that there were no guarantees with me today,” Goblirsch said. “I just had to stay focused and shoot another good round like Day 1.”

With the pressure on, she played just fine on Monday. She said the course is one that she enjoys competing on.

“I like it a lot,” she said. “Normally I play the back nine better but today the front nine was five strokes better.”

Minnesota Valley Lutheran’s Nadine Clobes, a junior, made program history when she became the first girl golfer ever from MVL to qualify for state. She turned in a two-day total of 190 and she wasn’t really nervous about the possibility of competing at state next week.

“I just tried to have a short memory and play through the bad shots and not let the good shots affect me either,” Clobes said. “Just move on to the next shot and stay consistent with my shots.”

Cedar Mountain’s Schaylee Schiller also qualified for the state meet with a 190.

The Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton girls’ team advanced to state with a score of 862. New Ulm Cathedral was second with a score of 873, followed by MVL (888) and Alden-Conger (957).

For Cathedral, Goblirsch led the way, followed by Emma Henle (226), Alayna Spaude (228) and Grace Gleisner (251).

Clobes led MVL, folowed by Kirsten Thell (200), Dani Gerdts (216) and Kiya Erler (227).

Section 2A boys’ golf

Team scores: Springfield 629, SEU 660, USC 678, Madelia 680.

Qualifying individuals: Logan Haala, Cathedral (158), Andrew Heggen, USC (158), Carson Wihlm, Madelia (160), Andrew Neid, SEU (164), Logan Netzke, SEU (165).

Section 2A girls’ golf

Team scores: JWP 862, New Ulm Cathedral 873, MVL 888, Alden-Conger 957.

Qualifying individuals: Kayla Goblirsch, Cathedral (168), Mackenzie Lothert, Springfield (188), Schaylee Schiller, Cedar Mountain (190), Nadine Clobes, MVL (190), Annkia Riebe, Alden-Conger (199).