Nathan Beitler/MDN Minot North’s Emersyn Kopp tees off at Souris Valley Golf Course on Sept. 8 to qualify for the state tournament.

Des Lacs-Burlington junior Laila Christianson carded four birdies en route to a 1-under 71 on the first day of the two-day Class B girls golf state tournament at Pheasant Country Golf Course in Heart River on Monday, Sept. 29, and is in prime position to repeat as the individual champion.

Christianson recorded the only round under par and takes a four-shot lead into the final day of the tournament over both Kindred’s Lauren Mueller and Hankinson-Lidgerwood-Wyndmere’s Hudsyn Hubrig, who shot 3-over 75.

The defending state champion got off to a fast start with birdies on the opening two holes and another on the par-5 fifth to sit 3-under. Christianson would bogey the sixth, but birdied the ninth to make the turn at 3 under. It would be her final birdie of the round, parring seven of her final nine holes.

Christianson took advantage of the par 5s, finishing 1-under on those five holes. She was also 1-under across the three par 3s and 1-over on par 4s.

The Lakers as a team were battling for the lead with Heart River early in the round, but finished fourth at the end of Day 1 with a score of 331. Kindred made a late charge and has the team lead with 316, two shots ahead of Heart River. Oak Grove is third with 327 and Kenmare/Bowbells is fifth with 347. Kindred has two of the top four individual scores and Heart River has three in the top 10.

Kindred last won a Class B state title in girls golf in the spring of 2021, the only year where there was both a fall and spring season. The Vikings have a Class B record eight state titles. Heart River’s last title came in the fall of 2021.

Kenmare/Bowbells’ McKenna Mau cracked the top 10 with a 79 to sit tied for eighth. DL-B’s Lauryn Christianson is also in the top 20, tied for 13th with an 82.

The Class B team title is still very much up for grabs, but the Class A team title looks like it will belong to West Fargo Sheyenne for the first time in program history. The Mustangs recorded a 293 and are 20 strokes clear of Mandan following the opening round of the two-day Class A state tournament at Fargo Country Club. Grand Forks Red River (317), Fargo Shanley (330) and Fargo Davies (332) rounded out the top five. Minot North is sixth at 340.

The Mustangs placed all four of its top golfers in the top eight. Zoe Keene and Payton Stocker shot an even-par 72 and are tied four fourth. Ava Keene is tied for sixth after carding a 74 and Julia Melhus is right behind her with a 75, tied for eighth.

They are all chasing Fargo Davies senior Rose Solberg, who registered seven birdies, three bogies and eight pars for her round, finishing with a 4-under 68. Her round matched her previous round at Fargo Country Club back on Sept. 16. Solberg is seeking her second individual state title after winning the tournament as a freshman in 2022. Mandan’s Anna Huettl won the tournament in 2023 and Grand Forks Red River’s Ella Speidel is the current defending champion. Speidel is currently tied for sixth with a 74.

Three golfers carded rounds under par. Mandan’s Isabella Hale and Grand Forks Red River’s Alexis Fabian both shot 1-under 71s and are tied for second. Hale and St. Mary’s senior Lola Huber are the only two members of the West Region to crack the top 10. Huber is tied for eighth after shooting a 75.

Minot North’s Kinzy Welstad and Emersyn Kopp are tied for 12th and 14th, respectively, in their final tournaments as a member of the Sentinels. Welstad carded a 79 with five bogeys, a double-bogey and 12 pars. Kopp shot an 80, recording a birdie on the par-5 17th, while also finishing with nine bogeys and eight pars.

Minot High is not competing in the team tournament, but is represented in the individual competition with Katie Thomas, Taylor Deslauriers and Claire Hendrickson. Thomas is tied for 27th with an 85, while Deslauriers is tied for 39th with an 89 and Hendrickson is 82nd at 107.

The final round of the tournament tees off at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 30.