Golf: Triebenbach crowned youngest Osakis Country Club champion
Chase Triebenbach isn’t even old enough to have a driver’s license, and he’s already winning golf tournaments against guys much older than him. The ninth-grader won the Osakis Country Club championship with a score of 79, which is seven-over par, on Aug. 17. He beat out second-place finisher Ryan Wagner and third-place TJ Hinrichs for his first club championship. “I actually didn’t know I won until it was all over because I was in the first group,” Triebenbach said. “I was behind by two or three strokes after the front nine. On the back nine, I told myself, ‘You have to go low if you want to place.’” Triebenbach’s back-nine performance was enough to get the job done. After shooting two-over par after the turn, he found himself in the winner’s circle. “It was a lot of fun,” Triebenbach said. “I only won by one stroke. I watched the second-place guy miss the putt I made for birdie, which ended up winning it for me. I just didn’t make a lot of bad shots. It was a cool feeling being able to win and have people congratulate me.” Triebenbach said the key to his victory was his wedges. His close-range shots saved him and gave him ample opportunities to save par. “I remember on the first hole I came up a little short on my second shot,” Triebenbach said. “I was able to put my third shot about a foot from the hole to make par. That was a big confidence booster for me.” When he’s not golfing, Triebenbach works at the Osakis Country Club. Being able to win his home-town tournament was a special feeling for him. “It feels good, but now I have a target on my back for next year,” Triebenbach said. “I think it will be fun to play with people expecting me to play well. I’m just enjoying it for now.” If there is an Osakis golf season this spring, Triebenbach will be on the roster. Getting a confidence boost before the winter was one of his goals in the club championship. “I proved to myself that I could go low when I have to,” Triebenbach said. “I think that’s really important, and hopefully I’ll be able to do that more when the season comes.”
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