Golf 2025: Close battles are shaping up for final round of play

Scores of golfers made their way through one of three courses on Day 1 of the Minnesota State High School League’s Golf State Tournament on Tuesday, June 10. Opening rounds were played at Pebble Creek in Becker (Class A); Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan (Class AA) and Bunker Hills in Coon Rapids. 

Defending champions and challengers are atop crowded leaderboards heading into the final round on Wednesday, June 11.

Here is a recap of Day 1: 

Class A

Girls

• Dawson-Boyd senior Lindsey Lund finds herself in a familiar place. The defending Class A champion shot a first-round 78 at Pebble Creek and holds a one-stroke lead over Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City junior Brooke Brekke. Border West senior Paige Beyer sits in third place following a first-round 80. In the team chase, Dawson-Boyd holds a 10-stroke advantage over Park Christian. Dawson-Boyd compiled a 338 after the opening round. A year ago, Dawson-Boyd shared the Class A crown with Fillmore Central, who a season later, are in third place with a 366. 

Boys

• Brandon-Evansville-Ashby sophomore Traeton Nelson traveled the course at Ridges at Sand Creek and carded a 72 to earn a one-stroke lead over Heritage Christian Academy junior Alex Rhode and Lakeview senior Carson Boe. There is a three-player logjam tied for fourth between Legacy Christian Academy sophomore Braylon Ylkanen, Lac qui Parle Valley senior Carson Besonen and Minneota ninth-grader Owen Dalager. All fired a 74. Walker-Hackensack-Akeley leads the team competition with a 315, four strokes better than Legacy Christian Academy. 

Class AA

Girls

• It is a crowded leaderboard with Pequot Lakes senior Genevieve Birkeland setting the pace with a 73. Detroit Lakes ninth-grader Sophie Christianson is a shot back at 74, followed by Totino-Grace senior Kaitlyn Burstad at 75. Breck sophomore Sophie Layman and Minnewaska Area sophomore Annika Deboer are tied for fourth with a 76. Detroit Lakes is looking to add to its rich tradition of championships. The Lakers have an eight-stroke lead over Minnewaska Area with a round to play. 

Boys

• Detroit Lakes is also in command on the boys’ side. Junior Brock Burhans leads the field with a first-round 69. Right behind him is teammate Tyson Eckhoff, a ninth-grader, who is tied with two others one stroke back. Morris Area-Chokio/Alberta senior Charlie Hanson and Duluth Marshall’s Bennett Scissons also have 70s. Detroit Lakes has an 11-stroke lead over Southwest Christian and Blake. 

Class AAA

Girls

• Minnetonka has a 19-stroke lead in the race for a team championship. Maple Grove, the defending big-school champion, is in second position with a 324 and Wayzata is running third with 326. Forest Lake senior Bella Leonhart leads a talented group with a first-round 71. One stroke behind her is a three-way tie for second between Orono senior Ava Hanneman, Minnetonka junior Selena Wu and Wayzata junior Lauren Chambs.

Boys 

• Cretin-Derham Hall has a presence at the top in both team and individual competitions. The Raiders lead the team chase and are in a dandy duel with Chanhassen, who is a stroke off the pace. Alexandria Area and Rosemount are tied for third with 303. In the individual event, Cretin—Derham Hall senior San Udovich had the best round in any class with a 66. That is a four-stroke advantage over a three-player logjam for second. Edina senior Torger Ohe, the defending Class AAA champion, is one of them with 70. The others are Chanhassen senior Lucas Arntsen and Orono junior Dylan Kringen.