State Golf a rewarding, awarding event for W-K participants

Stumpf named to All-State Team,
Braem, Ruge earn Seniors’ Award;
Boys No. 1 in 1A Academics
by Michael Smith
It was a pretty special week for Wabasha-Kellogg High School Golf.
No, neither of the two W-K State Class A Golf tournament participants this past week in Becker placed in the Top 10, but they competed very well against the state’s best, with Tiffany Stumpf finishing tied for 23rd in the field of 88; and Natalie Schmit coming in tied for 62nd.
The competition was held over two days, Tuesday and Wednesday, at Pebble Creek Golf Course in Becker.
Stumpf was named to the Girls’ Class A All-State Team based on her Weekly Scoring Average.
And what’s more, longtime W-K Boys and Girls Golf Coach Jerry Dalen was inducted into the Minnesota State Golf Coaches’ Hall of Fame on Monday evening, June 8th.
And beyond that, the W-K Boys Golf team was named the Section 1A Academic Section Team Winners; and Girls team member Ashley Braem and Boys team member Matt Ruge earned 2015 High School Seniors’ Awards for having a GPA of 3.7+ and having played in the Section competition.
Stumpf shot rounds of (43-45)88 and (47-45)92 for a two-day total of 180 that was at her target goal, according to Dalen.
Schmit came in close to her target goal, as well, firing rounds of (47-51)98 and (52-52)104 for a two-day score of 202 on the difficult Red and White courses at Pebble Creek.
Stumpf was a senior this year at W-K and Schmit a junior.
Dalen, meanwhile, was honored that Monday evening at the annual Class A Golf Banquet at the Holiday Inn in St. Cloud. He was introduced by his father, Len Dalen, who was also his coach at St. James, Minnesota, and who founded the golf program there and coached for more than 25 years. Len Dalen, who is now 90, inspired the audience with his “awesome” speech, those who talked to us described it as.
Dalen also had the opportunity to speak and also gave an impressive acceptance speech, focusing almost entirely on the student/athletes he coached, according to his wife, Sue.
Dalen’s list of accomplishments at W-K include:
*Head boys’ and girls’ golf coach at W-K, 38 years;
*Started the girls’ golf program at W-K;
*Class A State Girls’ Coach of the Year in 2013;
*12 Conference titles for boys; 8 Conference titles for girls;
*2 SubSection titles for boys; 1 SubSection title for girls;
*2 State appearances for boys (finishing 2nd place and 5th place)
*1 State appearance for girls (finishing 3rd place);
*Coached 21 individual boys’ state participants;
*Coached 16 individual girls’ state participants.
Dalen was inducted this year along with Ron Kallheim of Fairmont and Dick Kulshaw of Little Falls.
Yes, you could say it was a good week for Wabasha-Kellogg Golf.