Mankato East slips by Austin

Published 12:00 am Monday, April 22, 2002

Senior leader Adam Plotts paced the Austin Packers’ boys’ golf squad with a co-medalist round of 78, but it was not enough to net victory for the team in the season-opening meet, a 329-339 loss to Mankato East Friday at the Austin Country Club.

Plotts, the only regular returning member of last year’s Section 1AA runner-up squad, shot 41-37 on a cold and windy day in Austin to tie East’s Brett Green for the top individual spot. Green’s supporting cast was slightly better than Plotts’, leaving the Scarlets out in front by the end of the day.

&uot;The Austin Country Club played tough for us tonight,&uot; said first-year coach Corey Haugen. &uot;We should be used to the wind and the cold this spring, but it was just too much for us tonight.&uot;

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Austin was able to use the wind to its advantage with some big drives off the tee, but the Packers struggled once they reached the green. The varsity six averaged a total of 35 putts -- nearly two per hole -- and will see more time on the practice green this week.

&uot;Putting is what defeated us tonight,&uot; Haugen said. &uot;We need to get that under control.&uot;

The Packers (0-1, 0-1) are scheduled to host Albert Lea and defending conference and section champ Rochester Century for a triangular today at ACC at 2:30 p.m.

Results:

MANKATO EAST (329) -- Brett Green 37-41-78, Mitch Olinger 40-40-80, Jon Snyder 45-40-85, Aaron Esser 44-42-86, Logan Wenzel 42-45-87, Nate Whited 47-48-95.

AUSTIN (339) -- Adam Plotts 41-37-78, Matt Ball 43-41-84, John Bain 44-44-88, Troy Hoefflin 46-43-89, Mike Osboe 45-48-93, Chad Peterson 53-45-98.