MOORHEAD — A rain shower had players, caddies and spectators on hole No. 11 at Moorhead Country Club scrambling for umbrellas and protective gear. Carter White, meanwhile, walked down the middle of the fairway like nothing was going on.
Nothing fazed him. The result was a course record 8-under 63 Friday afternoon in the second round of the Bell Bank Red River Amateur golf tournament, a performance that was a picture of precision.
White will take an eight-shot lead into Sunday’s final round, with the leaders slated to tee off at 10:30 a.m. because of possible weather implications. It will be televised by WDAY-TV on its Xtra channel as well as the WDAY-Plus app. Defending champion Kathryn VanArragon had a streak of 27 bogey-free holes snapped, but will still take a six-shot lead into the final round ahead of Klare Jamison in the women’s division.
If White, who will be a sophomore at North Dakota State, plays anything like he did in the first two rounds, there may not be much drama.
He was four shots behind first-round leader Dan Matheson late in his first nine holes before a dramatic shift changed the tourney outlook. Matheson bogeyed the first five holes of his back nine.
Meanwhile, White was in overdrive.
It was the third straight year a Red River Am player set the MCC course record. Two years ago it was Nate Peyerl with a 65. Last year, Rylin Petry shot a 64 on his way to winning the tourney title.
A sign at the tee box on the first tee lists all the champions since the tourney’s inception in 1964. A lot of big names and future pros have played the event. Nobody did what White did on Friday.
“And then looking at the weather and everything else in the scores today, 8-under didn’t seem like it was out there today,” said MCC head professional Chris Howell. “So what he did today was incredible.”
A long 25-foot bending birdie on the par-3 14th had Howell and others beginning to pay attention.
“OK, we’re on course record watch,” Howell said. “We have to follow this now.”
Emma Fitzmorris tees off in the Red River Amateur Championship tournament on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at the Moorhead Country Club.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
White didn’t scoreboard watch once and wasn’t aware of the potential record, although an increasing gallery in the last two or three holes told him something was up.
“I figured I was close to something with all the people watching but I really didn’t know much,” White said.
He made it interesting on 18 when his tee shot went way right into the first hole fairway. But he found an opening, put his approach to within 12 feet and two-putted for par.
His career low is 9-under par that he’s done a few times at The Vintage, his home course in Staples, Minnesota. A short three-foot birdie putt on the par-3 ninth jumpstarted the surge.
“I knew I had something going on,” White said.
He almost holed out from the fairway on the 11th, tapping in for another birdie and the rout was on.
It didn’t start out that way. White bogied the first hole.
“I was in a good spot and ended up making a pretty dumb bogey I would say,” he said. “Then I just kind of played my game, got some putts to fall.”
It’s been quite the few months for White, a former Minnesota state champion at Verndale High School who was part of an NDSU Summit League title team and played in the NCAA tournament.
Riley Johnson, who played early, made a huge jump up the leaderboard with a 69 is second behind White.
“I put myself in position, that’s all I really wanted to do,” Johnson said. “Off the tee, just staying disciplined, and then get myself in position, and so that’s all I tried to do today, and I executed.”
Results can be found at the tournament website at
Joe Honsa golfs in the Red River Amateur Championship tournament on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at the Moorhead Country Club.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Men’s results
Par 71
Advancing to third round
1. Carter White, The Vintage, 69-63—132; 2. Riley Johnson, Osgood Golf Course, 71-69—140; T3. Tyler Van Dusen, Bearpath Golf & Country Club, 73-68—141; Lucas Feterl, Rush Creek Golf Club, 71-70—141; T5. Torger Ohe, Detroit Country Club, 72-70—142; Ian Carroll, Moorhead Country Club, 69-73—142; T7. Jake Olson, Prairie Winds Golf Course, 71-72—143; Gabe Benson, Fargo Country Club, 76-67—143; Dan Matheson, Meadows Golf Course, 67-76—143; Tyler Seeling, Deacon’s Lodge, 69-74—143; Kolby Koerner, Kings Walk, 70-73—143; T12. Ben Appelhof, TPC Twin Cities, 68-76—144; Jacob Wilson, Forest Hills GC, 69-75—144; Logan Hamak, The Classic at Madden’s, 69-75—144; Cole Witherow, Eagle Valley Golf Course, 70-74—144; T16. Weston Nyberg, Geneva Golf Course, 71-74—145; Isaac Ahn, Rochester Golf and Country Club, 69-76—145; Jack Dudeck, Lone Tree Golf Club, 70-75—145; T19. Nate Appelhof, TPC Twin Cities, 75-71—146; Parker Brock, Tianna Country Club, 71-75—146; T21. Stetsen Brown, Grand Forks Country Club, 74-73—147; Jon Miller, Moorhead Country Club, 71-76—147; Joe Honsa, Southview CC, 70-77—147; T24. Joe Kortan, Moorhead Country Club, 75-73—148; Jack Justesen, Hawley Country Club, 75-73—148; Jack Holtz, Geneva Golf Club, 75-73—148; Joey Mackinac, Southview CC, 74-74—148; Parker Etzel, Eau Claire Golf and Country Club, 74-74—148; Parker Edens, Brookings Country Club, 73-75—148; Max Wilson, Oakcrest Golf Course, 73-75—148; Brock Burhans, Detroit Country Club, 72-76—148; Jack Randall, The Jayhawk Club, 72-76—148; Sean Moore, Fargo Country Club, 77-71—148; Ryan Stendahl, Rush Creek Golf Club, 72-76—148; Ross Koerner, Kings Walk, 77-71—148; Caleb Ketterling, Napoleon CC, 76-72—148; Traeton Nelson, Tipsinah Mounds Golf Course, 70-78—148; Jake Thompson, Papago Golf Club, 70-78—148; T39. Connor Holland, Moorhead Country Club, 78-71—149; Ian Simonich, Moorhead Country Club, 71-78—149; Zeke Roberts, Indian Hills Golf Club, 76-73—149; 42. Landon Olson, Moorhead Country Club, 77-73—150; T43. Zach Rouleau, StoneRidge Golf Club, 79-72—151; Ryan Engel, Moorhead Country Club, 75-76—151; Aidan Zuger, Fargo Country Club, 78-73—151; Logan Palmer, Moorhead Country Club, 78-73—151; Masen Nowacki, Sandhill River Golf Course, 74-77—151; Mitchell Dewey, Tipsinah Mounds Golf Course, 77-74—151; Lance Hamak, The Classic at Madden’s, 77-74—151; Ty Lenards, Prairie Winds GC, 73-78—151; Blake Scholl, Alexandria Golf Club, 76-75—151; T52. Brody Johnson, Valley Golf Course, 75-77—152; Avery Kutter, Moorhead Country Club, 78-74—152; Andy Doeden, Fargo Country Club, 75-77—152; Tyson Eckhoff, Detroit Country Club, 78-74—152; Collin Fogarty, Pine Island Golf Course, 77-75—152; Brady Schwinghammer, Geneva Golf Club, 77-75—152; Sidney Williams, Village Green Golf Course, 76-76—152.
Women’s results
Par 72
1. Kathryn VanArragon, StoneRidge Golf Club, 66-73—139; 2. Klare Jamison, Valley Hill Country Club, 71-74—145; 3. Amelia Morton, StoneRidge Golf Course, 73-75—148; T4. Molly Jamison, Valley Hill Country Club, 70-79—149; Bella Leonhart, Forest Hills GC, 70-79—149; Rylan Horning, Hart Ranch Golf Club, 72-77—149; Emma Fitzmorris, Midland Hills Country Club, 74-75—149; 8. Anna Huettl, Prairie West Golf Course, 79-72—151; 9. Lexi Bartley, Fargo Country Club, 75-77—152; T10. Hannah Boraas, Alexandria Golf Club, 73-80—153; Laila Christianson, Vardon GC, 74-79—153; Avery Bartels, Oxbow Country Club, 75-78—153; Lindsey Lund, Dawson Golf Course, 77-76—153; Olivia Braun, Moccasin Creek Country Club, 77-76—153; 15. Sophie Cook, Hawley Golf Course, 78-76—154; T16. Payton Stocker, Oxbow CC, 72-83—155; Nicole Reineke, Stone Ridge Golf Course, 75-80—155; 18. Ava Hanneman, Minneapolis Golf Club, 75-81—156; 19. Lindsey Astrup, Fargo Country Club, 82-76—158; T20. Annika Jyrkas, Pebble Lake Golf Club, 77-82—159; Abby Stendahl, Rush Creek Golf Club, 77-82—159; Kate McComb, Edgewood Golf Course, 78-81—159; Claire Schweim, Crow River Golf Club, 82-77—159; T24. Annika Hendrickson, Rush Creek Golf Club, 80-80—160; Lauren Chambs, Rush Creek Golf Club, 80-80—160.
Missed Cut: Jaya Grube, Grand Forks Country Club, 82-79—161; Nora Benson, Fargo Country Club, 75-87—162; Isabella Seuntjens, Detroit Lakes Country Club, 84-78—162; Elle Schweim, Crow River Golf Club, 77-86—163; Bailey Theuninck, Oxbow Country Club, 80-83—163; Genevieve Birkeland, The Classic at Madden’s, 81-82—163; Rose Solberg, Fargo Country Club, 84-79—163; Ellie Sticha, Geneva Golf Club, 82-83—165; Anika Astrup, Fargo Country Club, 80-86—166; Mallory Uselman, The Vintage Golf Club, 83-83—166; Julia Melhus, Fargo Country Club, 83-83—166; Lauryn Keller, Vardon GC, 85-83—168; Sydney Miller, Detroit Country Club, 81-88—169; Tatum Gatheridge, Detroit Country Club, 81-88—169; Ava Keene, Oxbow Country Club, 89-80—169; Jaycie Sliper, Detroit Country Club, 80-90—170; Zoe Keene, Oxbow Country Club, 85-85—170; Mila Jenniges, Redwood Falls Golf Club, 88-83—171; Sophie Christianson, Detroit Country Club, 84-88—172; Annie Neva, Deacon’s Lodge Golf Course, 88-84—172; Ella Speidel, Grand Forks Country Club, 88-84—172; Lola Huber, Prairie West, 85-89—174; Brynn Korbl, Fargo Country Club, 91-94—185; Raelynn Pannhoff, Burl Oaks Golf Club, 93-92—185; Olivia Carney, Moorhead Country Club, 110-115—225.