On a day more suited to ducks and frogs than links and clubs, the Aberdeen Roncalli girls’ golf program ran away with the team title at the annual Roncalli Invitational Thursday afternoon at a rain-slicked Lee Park Golf Course.

Claire Crawford claimed medalist honors and led six Cavaliers in the top seven slots of the tournament. Crawford turned in a round of 82 despite steady rain that dampened the back half of the tournament.

“Just staying focused,” Crawford said of the mindset needed on day where rain – not wind – was the prevailing course hazard. “One shot at a time. You can’t control the weather. Everyone else is playing in it too, so you just have to keep all that in mind and go out and have fun.”

Crawford led the field nearly start to finish and said the key was keeping her ball in bounds.

“The key today was hitting the fairways with my driver,” she said. “That leaves you for a good second shot.”

Plus, playing in the rain is sometimes just flat fun.

“It’s kind of fun,” Crawford said. “You’ve got nothing to lose. If you play bad, blame it on the weather and if not, good job playing through the conditions.”

Groton’s Carly Guthmiller was the lone competitor to break up the Cavalier caravan at the top of the leaderboard. Guthmiller’s 84 put her in the runner-up slot individually and helped the Tigers to a runner-up finish in the team standings, as well.

Teammate Carlee Johnson joined Guthmiller in the top 10, finishing ninth overall.

“I just focus on each shot, and even though my fingers might be freezing or my clubs are slippery from the rain, I’m just going to focus on this one shot and do my best and get the lowest score I can,” Johnson said. 

While Johnson felt she may have left some strokes on the course, there is a benefit to playing in inclement weather.

“I focus on my mental strength,” she said. “My shots aren’t always the best on days like this, so I just try to hit it as clean as I can. Earlier I didn’t want to be here, because it’s super cold outside, but I made it through.”

In addition to Crawford’s individual victory, the Cavaliers claimed spots two through seven in the standings. Grace Seyer was third with a 90, Morgan Helms and Ava Danielson both carded rounds of 94 and Mackenzie Wegehaupt and Delaney Johnson were just behind with 95s.

Reese Henrich rounded out Roncalli’s cohort with a 104.

“It’s not the greatest of days,” said Cavaliers’ coach Jon Murdy. “But we needed a round. The more rounds we can get the better.”

While the persistent wet and cold conditions were not conducive to ultra low scores, Murdy said they did reveal things about his team’s character.

“To me, it’s more seeing how determined they are to finish the round,” he said. “Their mindset here has to be strong. They have to want to be out there to play and compete. … Proud of the way they played. It hasn’t been nice from the start, but I’m happy with the way they played.”

Elliot Hortness of Sisseton (96) and Johnson (100) and Camila Monroy of Milbank (100) rounded out the top 10 of Thursday’s round.

Team Points: Aberdeen Roncalli 360, Groton 393, Mobridge-Pollock 413, Milbank 446, Redfield 533.

Individual Results

1, Claire Crawford, Aberdeen Roncalli, 82; 2, Carly Guthmiller, Groton, 84; 3, Grace Seyer, Aberdeen Roncalli, 90; 4, Morgan Helms, Aberdeen Roncalli, 94; 5, Ava Danielson, Aberdeen Roncallli, 94; 6, Mackenzie Wegehaupt, Aberdeen Roncalli, 95; 7, Delaney Johnson, Aberdeen Roncalli, 95; 8, Elliot Hortness, Sisseton, 96; 9, Carlee Johnson, Groton, 100; 10, Camilia Monroy, Milbank, 100;

11, Claire Heil, Mobridge-Pollock, 101; 12, Mia Crank, Groton, 101; 13, Becca Cox, Mobridge-Pollock, 101; 14, Addysen Evans, Redfield, 102; 15, Jaclyn Wiik, Milbank, 102; 16, Reese Henrich, Aberdeen Roncalli, 104; 17, Brooke Schlomer, Mobridge-Pollock, 105; 18, Arie Mound, Mobridge-Pollock, 106; 19, Shaylee Schuchard, Milbank, 106; 20, Carly Gilbert, Groton, 108;

21, Skighe McCann, Mobridge-Pollock, 109; 22, Kenzley Heath,Sisseton, 111; 23, Halee Harder, Groton, 113; 24, Grace Lemmer, Redfield, 127; 25, Kalli Spotanske, Redfield, 127; 26, Mia VanLith, Milbank, 138; 27, Jacynda Street, Milbank, 139; 28, Willow Ronnenberg, Redfield, 182.