Two Boys Golf teams making their State Tournament debuts and another chasing its first team championship hold the lead in their respective classes after the first round of play.
Meanwhile, all three defending Girls Golf championship teams lead their classes entering Wednesday’s second and final round.
Here is a recap of Tuesday’s action.
Class A Boys
Central Minnesota Christian shot 300 as a team on the opening day of the Class A competition at Pebble Creek to lead Heritage Christian Academy by two.
A Heritage Christian senior and the defending individual champion, Alex Rhode had the best opening day with a 69. Cedar Mountain senior Carson Schiller is in second with 71, followed by seniors Bennett Scissons of Marshall School, Duluth (72) and Maverick Reed of Walker-Hackensack-Akeley (73).
Class AA Boys
Southwest Christian is leading the Class AA Boys race at Ridges at Sand Creek after shooting 285 to Totino-Grace’s 287. Southwest Christian senior Henry Johnson and sophomore Ryder Rose are 1-2 on the leaderboard with 67 and 68, respectively. Rose is the reigning champion.
The Stars have finished runner-up and third place in their two previous tournament appearances.
Legacy Christian Academy junior Braylon Ylkanen is in third after shooting 70 on Tuesday. Seven golfers shot 71 and are tied for fourth, including three from Totino-Grace – sophomore Drew Burstad and seniors Collin Ramos and Ben Appelhof.
Class AAA Boys
In Class AAA, Brainerd shot 289 to lead second-place Spring Lake Park by five strokes after the first day of competition at Bunker Hills. It’s a tight race throughout with Benilde-St. Margaret’s in third, one behind Spring Lake Park, and three teams tied for fourth another two strokes back: St. Thomas Academy, Orono and Elk River.
Benilde-St. Margaret’s senior Braydon Pulcanio had the best individual day, shooting 66. He leads Elk River junior William Roiland by one stroke. Spring Lake Park junior Chase Birdwell is in third with 69. Sophomore Brady Oseland led Brainerd with a 70, tied for fourth with Rosemount senior Mason Eaton.
Class A Girls
Two-time defending state champion Dawson-Boyd is in good position to repeat after totaling 329 on the first day at Pebble Creek, 21 strokes better than second-place Heritage Christian Academy.
A Heritage Christian sophomore, Aly Bormes is atop the leaderboard with 73, two strokes better than Murray County Central senior Rachael Huso. Fertile-Beltrami sophomore Macy Petry is in third (76).
Dawson-Boyd’s top two, sophomore Kylar Hjelmeland and senior Alyssa Swedzinski shot 80 and are in a three-way tie for sixth.
Class AA Girls
Also seeking a third consecutive state title is Detroit Lakes in Class AA, and the Lakers took a step toward that goal by shooting 310 on Tuesday at Ridges at Sand Creek to take the lead. Hill-Murray, though, is close behind with 313.
Detroit Lakes sophomore Sophie Christianson is tied for the individual lead with Albany ninth-grader Katelyn Hoff as both shot 73. Hill-Murray senior Emma Fitzmorris is next with 74.
Class AAA Girls
Minnetonka has three golfers in the top 10 and the team lead with a score of 294 after the first day of Class AAA competition at Bunker Hills.
Senior Ruby Reding leads all individuals with a first-round 70. Classmate Selena Wu is tied for second, one stroke back with Wayzata senior Lauren Chambs and Northfield senior Karina Johnson. Minnetonka junior Kieley Hanson is tied for eighth (74).