(Gallery) Orono Boys Sits 4th At State After Day 1

The Orono boys golf team finished up the first day of the Class AA state tournament in a peculiar position—looking up at the leaderboard.

The three-time defending champion Spartans finished Wednesday’s round at Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan in fourth place with a 303 score. Marshall leads with a 299, Detroit Lakes shot a 302 and Staples Motley shot a 303.

Orono will need to make up a seven-shot lead on Thursday to claim its fourth straight championship, which would tie three other schools for the most in state history.

Individually, senior Patrick Johnston shot a 73 on the day, tying him with five other golfers in seventh place.

Dakota Clark, who was medalist at the Section 4AA tournament, shot a 76 on the day—tying him for 20th. Dan Lensing shot a 78 and is in 36th place, and Miles Knutsen, Brian Urness and Matt Peterson each shot a 78 and currently share 42nd place.

Marshall’s Max Deutz shot a 70 on Wednesday and is currently leading the field by a single stroke. Play resumes on Thursday with a 7:30 a.m. tee time.

Click to read a preview on the team and the tournament posted earlier this week.