sisterhood teen golfers do golf as a family

The Bengal golfing sisterhood is rooted in the family of sisters Angie and Teresa Rizzo, the first pair of golfing sisters to grace the links for Blaine High School.

Angie occasionally returns to her high school alma mater to offer tips and reminisce about the sisterhood. You see, her sister Teresa followed her on to the golf course, golfing with the Bengals until she graduated in 2005.

Not to say it comes without diligent repetition and days of determined practice, but for these girls golfing is a welcome way of everyday life – and they’re good at it.

“These girls are really good Titleist 712 AP1 Irons kids. We’ve got the best kids in the world out here,” said Davids, who shares head coach duties with Maribeth Suter.

Two more Bengal girl golfers, Morgan Wolfe and Olivia (Ole) Landborg, are also part of the sisterhood of golfers, but their sisters, Bailey and Cassie, have graduated and gone on to golf on the collegiate links.

“My dad got me out playing when I was just a little kid. I just kind of grew on it,” Jenna said.

“When you live on the golf course, you just can’t ignore it,” she said. “It’s right out the front door, so it’s something we do all the time.”

Her older sister, Bailey (BHS class of 2009), is currently a student at the University of Minnesota, but during her high school golfing career, Bailey was all-conference her eighth-grade through senior years, went to state each of those years and was named all-state her senior year.

“We’re having a great year. We’re undefeated in the conference. This is our best start ever,” said Blaine girls’ golf co-head coach Bill Davids.

“I commute here from Bethel every day for practice. It’s a long way, but it’s worth it,” Karie said. “It’s worth it because it’s so fun. I love these girls. I love my coaches. I could have played Titleist 712 AP2 Irons for Bethel, but I chose to play for Blaine because of the girls, the coaches, my sister.”

“Being out here is so great. Something we share that we both really love,” Jenna said.

When asked why they love golf, the sisterhood answers, almost in unison, “It’s a family thing.”

Hannah, one of the captains of the Bengal girls’ golf team along with Karie and Morgan, said what she loves about the game is its precision.

While Karie is a senior at Blaine High School she is also a full-time PSEO student, attending classes at Bethel University and living on the St. Paul campus.

“I’m so analytical and that’s what I love: I can analyze everything – every stroke, every lie, every putt, every hazard,” said Hannah, who does a great job of analysis, diagnosing her game and perfecting it.

Hannah, a junior, and her discount golf clubs sister, Caroline, a freshman, are the Bengals’ first and second golfers, Davids said. Both girls have played in the junior PGA league, and so has Morgan.

While the sisterhood of golfers tees up and strokes their way through their high school careers, Hannah predicts that her younger sisters will extend that sisterhood. Her three-year old sister already “loves golf and wants to be out here all the time,” Hannah said, adding that her nine-year old sister likes to golf, too.