CARRINGTON, N.D. — Kindred led wire-to-wire and ran away with its ninth North Dakota Class B girls golf title on Wednesday at Cross Roads Golf Course by 32 shots.
The nine wins are already the most in Class B history, now two ahead of Hazen’s seven titles with the Bison last winning in 2009. Kindred’s 608 and it’s opening round of 301 strokes are both state records.
It’s the first victory however for second-year head coach Greg Goldsmith.
“It’s hard when you have a lead like that to stay focused and concentrate on everything,” Goldsmith said after his Vikings held a 22-stroke lead after Day 1. “To come in Day 2 and still extend a lead like that, it was amazing to see and a lot of credit goes to the girls and all the hard work they put in.”
Laila Christianson of Des Lacs-Burlington won the individual portion for the third straight season. The senior shot a 4-under 140 to edge Bottineau’s Ellee Rybchinski by a shot.
Fargo Oak Grove finished second at 640, improving by six shots on Wednesday. Sylvie Brantner (151) and Ellie Zuger (155) placed sixth and seventh, respectively, for the Grovers, who were looking to get back in the winner’s circle after claiming team titles from 2022-24.
Kaylin Goldsmith led Kindred with a third-place finish, shooting an even-par 144. Christianson held her ground, shooting a bogey-free 3-under 69 in Wednesday’s second round.
The Vikings trotted out five juniors among its six competitors and look to have a solid opportunity next season to win an unprecedented fourth straight title.
“We felt coming into the year what the expectations were for us,” Goldsmith said. “We were glad that we were able to come through with the win at the end of the year, but we haven’t quite thought or talked about next year yet.”
Kindred’s Bailey Theuninck closed with a 77 to finish fifth. With Lauren Mueller finishing 11th at 159, Reagan Lorz helped the Vikings with a 75 on Wednesday to finish 16th at 162. Morgan McDonald was (26th, 170) and seventh grader Louise Grussing (36th, 175) rounded out the Vikings.
Oak Grove players Claire Luebke, left, Claire Lee, Ellie Zuger, Sylvie Brantner, Greta Gruchalla and Claire Doeden hold their state Class B runner-up trophy on Wednesday in Carrington.
Erik Gjovik / Foster County Independent
Goldsmith said Lorz fought some back issues coming into the tournament.
“She fought as hard as she could and to see her shoot the way she did, it was amazing to see,” he said.
Only Oak Grove and Kindred have won three straight Class B championships.
Christianson’s third state championship trails only the four titles won by South Border’s Emily St. Aubin (2016-2019) and Kindred’s Avery Bartels (spring 2021, fall 2021, 2022, 2023). Heidi Sheldon of Park River and Sara Berglund of Hazen were also Class B medalists three times in previous seasons.
The North Dakota High School Coaches Association named Christianson as its Class B girls senior athlete of the year. Marie Burckhard of Des Lacs-Burlington won coach of the year.
Team totals: Kindred 608, Oak Grove 640, Heart River 650, Des Lacs-Burlington 662, Bottineau 669, Central Cass 678, Kenmare/Bowbells 701, Linton/HMB 702, Edgeley-Kulm 732, Napoleon/G-S 741, Rugby 745, Grafton 745, Larimore 746, Hazen 755, Velva 758, Hatton-Northwood 763, Bowman County 807, Stanley 813.
Top 25 and ties: 1. Laila Christianson, Des Lacs-Burlington, 140 (71-69); 2. Ellee Rybchinski, Bottineau, 141 (67-74); 3. Kaylin Goldsmith, Kindred, 144 (70-74); 4. Hudsyn Hubrig, Hankinson-Lidgerwood, 146 (71-75); 5. Bailey Theuninck, Kindred, 148 (71-77); 6. Sylvie Brantner, Oak Grove, 151 (75-76); 7. Ellie Zuger, Oak Grove, 155 (81-74); T8. Kenley Toop, Central Cass, 156 (80-76); T8. Lauryn Christianson, Des Lacs-Burlington, 156 (75-81); 10. Blake Nicholas, North Star, 157 (81-76); 11. Lauren Mueller, Kindred, 159 (78-81); T12. Taylor Karsky, Heart River, 160 (77-83); T12. Shelby Schlepp, Edgeley-Kulm, 160 (80-80); T12. Isabelle Haller, Heart River, 160 (80-80); 15. Megan McCrory, Linton/HMB, 161 (81-80); T16. Reagan Lorz, Kindred, 162 (87-75); T16. Jaci Verkuehlen, Central Cass, 162 (84-78); 18. Cali Reisenauer, Heart River, 164 (87-77); T19. Aliyah Schwartzenberger, Napoleon/G-S, 166 (86-80); T19. Katie Moen, Bottineau, 166 (81-85); T19. Addison Hulm, Linton/HMB, 166 (81-85); T22. Greta Gruchalla, Oak Grove, 167 (84-83); T22. Claire Lee, Oak Grove, 167 (83-84); T24. Peyton Steffan, Heart River, 169 (86-83); T24. Vivian Nygaard, Divide County, 169 (84-85).
Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.