FARGO — Josh McCollum strode off the 17th green of Rose Creek Golf Course a ball of energy Saturday afternoon.
McCollum sank a 10-foot putt “dead-center” to eagle the 17th hole and grab a one-stroke lead heading into his final hole of the 2026 Bobcat North Dakota Open. The 29-year-old noticed the 17th hole was playing short and opted to tee up his driver.
“I just aimed and basically hit a high slice over the water and kind of tried to chip and take some off it,” said McCollum, from Nashville, Tennessee.
After his group watched the tee shot land on the back fringe, McCollum sensed he had an opportunity to steal the lead away from Marco Trstenjak and capitalized. McCollum hit the 10-footer to eagle and had to take a few breaths to keep his emotions in check.
On the 18th, McCollum hit a long tee shot that nestled along the right-edge of the fairway. He chipped his second shot within six feet of the cup and holed his third shot to birdie.
The eagle-birdie finish put McCollum at a 10-under 60 in the final round to win the tournament with a 19-under-par 190. As the birdie putt on 18 dropped into the hole, all of McCollum’s bottled emotions unfurled in a celebratory exclamation and fist pump.
“I like to show emotion,” McCollum said. “I’m pretty stoic most of the round till the back nine, when you get into the heat of the hunt. (The) adrenaline gets going.”
Josh McCollum smiles after hitting a birdie putt on hole No. 15 in the final round of the Bobcat North Dakota Open on Saturday, Aug. 22, at Rose Creek Golf Course in Fargo.
Andrew Haugland / The Forum
The win marked McCollum’s first tournament victory of the summer. McCollum fired a 65 in the first round and 66 in the second round. He finished with eight birdies and an eagle on the final round.
Trstenjak finished tied for second along with William Adams at 18-under 192.
Former professional Josh Persons won the amateur tournament with a 15-under 195. He shot a 6-under 64 in the final round to tie for sixth overall. Persons, a Fargo North graduate, fired a first-round 65 and second-round 66
“It’s always fun to play at home, in the area, (and) sleep in your own bed,” Persons said of winning the tournament in Fargo. “There’s a lot of good things about it.”
Carter White shakes hands after firing a 9-under-par 61 in the final round of the Bobcat North Dakota Open on Saturday, Aug. 22, at Rose Creek Golf Course in Fargo.
Andrew Haugland / The Forum
Among the top performers in the amateur tournament was North Dakota State’s Carter White. White tied a personal best with a 9-under 61 on Saturday. He finished in third in the amateur event at 13-under 197.
“I hit it good off the tee and then gave myself some good looks,” said White, who finished with nine birdies.
White won the Bell Bank Red River Amateur tournament last June.
“It’s got my confidence going through the roof,” White said, “and hopefully (I’ll) be able to lead the team and defend that conference championship.”
Scott Johnson won the senior division with a 12-over 222 and Rick Samson won the super senior division with a 13-over 223.
Josh Persons holds up his award after winning the Bobcat North Dakota Open amateur tournament on Saturday, Aug. 22, at Rose Creek Golf Course in Fargo.
Andrew Haugland / The Forum
After graduating from North Dakota State University, Haugland joined the Forum in January of 2023. Readers can reach him at 701-241-5508 or by emailing ahaugland@forumcomm.com