It was a good week for Gregory at the 2023 ‘B’ boys state golf tournament. Not only did the Gorillas capture the team title in impressive fashion, but Gregory senior Eli Fogel also took home the individual title with a performance that came down to the 18th hole.
“You can't win a tournament on the first day, but you can lose it, and that was my goal, to not lose it [Monday]. So, I put myself in a position and just came out here today,” said Fogel. “I woke up really sick this morning, did not feel good. I came out here, hit a few balls, and it just happened. It's, honestly, god's work.”
Fogel shot a +6 in the opening round on Monday, which put him tied for 3rd in the individual standings. His performance on Tuesday, however, propelled him to the top as he shot +1 for the round, giving him +7 for the tournament and a one stroke victory in the tournament.
“It’s been a dream of mine since seventh grade, and I think I’ve had the ability to do it since my eighth grade year. I got 11th at state in eighth grade, and ever since then I was like, ‘I want to be a four timer in high school,’” said Fogel. “Freshman year, COVID cancelled me, I didn’t get to play. Sophomore year I played really good practice rounds at Brookings and then didn’t perform [in the tournament]. And then last year, you know the whole situation with the weather, but I kind of choked on the last three holes. I went bogey, double (bogey), triple bogey on the last three to give myself an 81.”
Last year, Gregory also won the state team title in ‘B’ boys, but because of thunderstorms and heavy rain, the second round was ultimately scrapped. Since it couldn’t be completed, the tournament was scored on just the first round.”
“The expectations were high for us, so we came out yesterday, we were tied with Ethan, and we got to the turn today and I was like, "Wow, we have 25 strokes on them." So, I wasn't too worried,” Fogel stated. “I was kind of worried about just staying in my game, worrying about my game.”
As a team, Gregory finished with +42, which was a 29-stroke lead on second place Ethan. Fogel was in the last group to finish on Tuesday. As he approached the green, one of his teammates said ‘two putt to win.’ When he successfully found the cup in just two putts, it was time to celebrate.
Gregory's Eli Fogel @GregoryGorillas shows everybody how to nail down a state Class B boys golf championship with two big putts. Here's the second one. #sdpreps pic.twitter.com/QKYs4uI4yZ
— P.O. Sports (@PO_Sports) June 7, 2023
“It's an unexplainable feeling really. It's like everything worked out the way it should have for a reason,” exclaimed Fogel. “Those days when you're a seventh, eighth grader in the summertime, just hitting balls at your nine-hole municipal course, it all just kind of flashes before your eyes. It's like all that work I put in, paid off finally.”
Next year, Fogel plans to attend Augustana University for biochemistry as a pre-med student. And while he isn’t planning on playing any sports collegiately, with golf especially, he’s thankful for the experience he had.
“I'm just grateful for the opportunity to play golf in South Dakota,” Fogel said. “It's been really fun and I love seeing all the youth involved in the game. It's a really great game.”
Along with winning the individual state golf title and being a part of the Gregory team golf title, Fogel also won a state football championship and a boys state track championship this school year with the Gorillas.
