Talk about an evenly matched tournament.  
    Clear Lake boys golf team figured in a three-way tie for  first place at the Owatonna Invitational held Saturday in cold, windy conditions on a tough Minnesota course.  Using the scores of additional varsity players form each team, first place was awarded to Owatonna, using a fifth score of 88.  Clear Lake was second, using a fifth score of 92 and a sixth score of 93.  Bloomington Jefferson was third, using a fifth score of 92 and a sixth score of 96.
    Clear Lake’s Zach Monson was medalist with a 77.  After posting a 38 on the front nine, Monson battled through a 10 on hole 14.  He finished with a pair of birdies to force a playoff with a Marshall golfer.  On the first hole in the playoff, Monson drove the ball about 330 yards, five-yards in front of the par 4 335.  The Marshall golfer hit his under a tree, had to punch out and pitch onto the green from about 50 yards and two putted for the bogey.  Monson chipped and two putted for the par and the tournament title.
    “After a bogey, bogey start, Zach finished the day with five birdies and his disappointing 10, a hole which Zach hit two out of bounds.  I was pleased with Zach keeping his composure and battling to still win the tournament,” said Coach Eric Perry.  “There was only four scores in the 70s with a talented pool of golfers,” said Coach Eric Perry.  “Most schools competing in the tournament had enrollments between 2,000 and 2,500 students in their high school.  While the Minneapolis school neared 3,000.”
    Clear Lake’s Josh Witt finished with a consistent 42-40-82. 
    “Josh plays smart golf and his 82 helped keep us in the hunt for the team title,” said the coach.  “Brent Tarr played the front nine solid and fell apart a little in the back.  However, his 86 showed he could still battle the elements and post a decent score.  Brent has really grown up in the past two weeks and is a real contributor to our team.”  
    Chris Lovell, after posting a 48 on the front, about saved the day with his 40 on the back for an 88, putting the Lions in first place.  But it wasn’t for long, as Owatonna’s final score came in to force a tie and the tie breaking procedures pushed the Lions back to second in the closest Owatonna tournament ever.
    “It was nice to see Chris, competing in his first tournament of his prep career, to finish as strongly as he did and give us hope of a title.  I think this tournament, coupled with the Newman score on Thursday, really opened our golfers eyes helping them realize our fifth and sixth scorers will be huge and the fact every stroke counts,” said Coach Perry.