trosenau@nujournal.com

NORTH MANKATO — While there wasn’t much any team could do to keep up with Faribault during a Mankato Girls Golf Invite, New Ulm took its wins where it could during a chilly and gusty Saturday afternoon at North Links Golf Course.

Faribault dominated the meet with a score of 371, followed by Mounds View (408), St. Peter (411), Mankato East (455) and New Ulm (473).

Faribault, led by medalist Olivia Streefland’s 85, occupied the top three individual spots on the leaderboard. Mariana Hager and Addison Thibodeau tied for second at the invite with a 93, while Faribault’s fourth top golfer, Madelyn Kramer, finished tied for sixth in the 18-hole invite with a 100.

Staff photo by Travis Rosenau New Ulm’s Lillian Kral watches a shot of hers on Hole 10 at North Links Golf Course in North Mankato Saturday afternoon during a Mankato Girls Golf Invite.

It may not count in the standings, but one win for the Eagles on Saturday was how their lone senior Rory Juberien recovered from a rough front nine. Juberien shot a 112 on the day to finish 19th overall, with a 62 in her front nine at the par-72 course.

Juberien’s back nine, however, saw her sink four bogeys and collect a par on the par-3 16th hole.

“I think it was just a fresh start,” Juberien said of her back nine. “It was like, ‘I’m already done with nine holes, I’m halfway done. … Halfway through, keep going.’ Then after the first hole scoring a bogey, I’m like, ‘All right, I’m already doing better than the first hole, so I might as well keep this going.'”

Juberien’s start to the day was a rough Hole 1 that saw her take nine strokes on the par-5 opening hole. She didn’t fare too well on her 18th hole, taking two penalties and nine strokes on the par-4 hole, but everything leading up to that for her on the back nine was relatively smooth considering the conditions, which saw a high of 48 degrees.

Juberien said getting her first couple swings down were key.

Staff photo by Travis Rosenau New Ulm’s Brogan Thordson putts on Hole 8 at North Links Golf Course in North Mankato on Saturday afternoon during a Mankato Girls Golf Invite.

“I think it was my first and second shots, so my driver and then whatever I used after that,” Juberien said. “Getting as far as I could on the fairway was probably my best shots. My putting, every now and then it didn’t work, my chips weren’t always great, but I did pretty well at getting far enough to where it didn’t really matter.”

As for New Ulm’s leader, that spot was taken by junior Lillian Kral, who shot a 112 to finish tied for 16th at the invite.

While Kral was unable to finish with any pars or birdies on the day, she was consistent with bogeys and double bogeys.

Three other juniors golfed for New Ulm on Saturday in Brogan Thordson, Maddy Wellmann and Chloe Kelly. Thordson shot a 121 for 25th, while Wellmann carded a 127 for 27th and Kelly turned in a 128 for 28th.

Juberien, who began her Eagles golf career on junior varsity as a freshman before jumping to varsity as a sophomore, said she’s most enjoyed making new friends and meeting new people during her prep golf career.

Staff photo by Travis Rosenau New Ulm’s Chloe Kelly watches her tee shot on Hole 7 at North Links Golf Course in North Mankato Saturday afternoon during a Mankato Girls Golf Invite.

The Eagles will next compete this Wednesday at Buffalo Lake’s Oakdale Golf Club in the Section 3AA Girls Golf Tournament.

Juberien said while she may not always have a great meet, she’s more interested in being able to set and meet small goals each time and will apply that Wednesday.

“Maybe I don’t get first, maybe I don’t move on, but as long as I’m happy with my score at the end of the day, that’s all that really matters,” Juberien said. “Maybe I’ll shoot a new PR or maybe I’ll shoot my worst score yet … but thinking about in the future, if I at least get one par or if I do two bogeys, just achieving the next small goal will keep me through.”

Staff photo by Travis Rosenau New Ulm’s Maddy Wellmann putts during a Mankato Girls Golf Invite on Saturday at North Links Golf Course in North Mankato.