{"id":684359,"date":"2026-06-04T18:11:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T18:11:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/684359\/"},"modified":"2026-06-04T18:11:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T18:11:18","slug":"red-rivers-kolby-koerner-edges-shanleys-ryker-grinaker-for-class-a-boys-golf-individual-crown-inforum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/684359\/","title":{"rendered":"Red River’s Kolby Koerner edges Shanley’s Ryker Grinaker for Class A boys golf individual crown – InForum"},"content":{"rendered":"

OXBOW, N.D. \u2014 Following his final putt on the 18th green, Kolby Koerner let out a long exhale.<\/p>\n

A sigh of relief? Perhaps. After all, the Grand Forks Red River senior had just capped his career with individual medalist honors after carding a final-round 2-over 74 Wednesday during the North Dakota Class A boys golf tournament at Oxbow Country Club.<\/p>\n

But the emotions stretched far beyond that.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was just trying to take in the moment,\u201d Koerner said. \u201cI was trying not to blow it, because I\u2019ve blown it before. In the end, it sucks we couldn\u2019t get it done as a team and I kind of felt like I let my team down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Koerner didn’t make it easy on himself. After building a three-shot cushion with Tuesday’s opening round, he bogeyed each of his final four holes Wednesday but held on to finish at 147 for the tournament, one stroke ahead of Fargo Shanley sophomore Ryker Grinaker.<\/p>\n

Minot captured the team title for its first state championship since 2003, edging Red River on a fifth-golfer tiebreaker after both teams finished with two-day totals of 625. When the next-best score from each team on both days was added in, the Magicians held a 793-796 edge.<\/p>\n

\u201cI take full responsibility,\u201d Koerner said. \u201cAt the end, it was hard. This win, it would have felt a lot better if we would have won as a team. I\u2019m very blessed to be able to get it done (today), but I feel really bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Grand<\/p>\n

Grand Forks Red River’s Kolby Koerner hits a shot during the North Dakota Class A Boys State Golf Championship on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at the Oxbow Country Club. <\/p>\n

Chris Flynn \/ The Forum<\/p>\n

Koerner\u2019s Red River teammates didn\u2019t seem to mind, showering him with the celebratory water bucket at the end.<\/p>\n

Koerner finished with three birdies in the final round. Six of his eight bogeys during the tournament came on the back nine.<\/p>\n

\u201cComing down the stretch, the back nine is towards the end of the round,\u201d Koerner said. \u201cYou might get a little tired as well. I don\u2019t think I was really fatigued, but I did think staying focused for that long is really difficult, especially when you\u2019re in a position to win.\u201d<\/p>\n

Grinaker finished even-par 72 for a two-day total of 148. Sitting three shots behind Koerner entering the final round, he cut the deficit to two with an eagle on the par-5, 496-yard fourth hole.<\/p>\n

He pulled within one on the par-3, 150-yard ninth, birdieing the hole while Koerner made par.<\/p>\n

Koerner answered two holes later with a birdie on the par-4 11th to extend the lead again. Grinaker bogeyed the hole and later doubled the 13th, allowing Koerner to regain some breathing room.<\/p>\n

\u201cKolby and I both got out to a pretty hot start there on the front nine, and then it was just a battle of whoever could make the most pars on the back nine was going to take it away,\u201d Grinaker said.<\/p>\n

Grinaker shot par on seven of the final nine holes while Koerner parred four on the back nine.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe just limited his mistakes,\u201d Grinaker said. \u201cI had one bad hole No. 13 there where I doubled, and you don\u2019t see many mistakes out of Kolby. Making those doubles is definitely where he took an advantage there and it\u2019s just pretty steady for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI battled back at the end there, but Kolby deserves that one. That was a great round by him and a great career by him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Fargo<\/p>\n

Fargo Shanley’s Ryker Grinaker tees off during the North Dakota Class A Boys State Golf Championship on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at the Oxbow Country Club.<\/p>\n

Chris Flynn \/ The Forum<\/p>\n

Minot sophomore Tripp Toepfer carded a 1-over 73 for a two-day total of 151 to finish in third place while leading the Magicians to the team title.<\/p>\n

The Magicians sat two shots back of Red River after the opening round, trailing 319-317. Minot\u2019s final-round team total was headed up by Toepfer\u2019s 73, Connor Ressler and Nathan Peterson with 77s, Parker Argent with a 79 and Easton Bradley with an 83.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe definitely had a lot of depth in our team,\u201d Toepfer said. \u201cI feel like we can all just not be too stressed out about what we\u2019ve got to shoot, because we all just had such good team chemistry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Minot boys golf team celebrates their team championship by jumping in the water at the 18th hole at the North Dakota Class A Boys State Golf Championship on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at the Oxbow Country Club. <\/p>\n

Chris Flynn \/ The Forum<\/p>\n

West Fargo\u2019s Ben Walker received Class A boys golf Coach of the Year honors from the North Dakota High School Coaches Association.<\/p>\n

Koerner was named Senior Athlete of the Year and will play collegiately at Minnesota Crookston.<\/p>\n

He finished runner-up in last year\u2019s Class A tournament, which is part of the reason why the sigh of relief came before any celebration.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never really been a big celebrator,\u201d Koerner said. \u201cBecause I believe your highest emotions can also be \u2026 If you get proud or high on yourself when you really make a good shot, then how are you going to respond when you hit a bad shot?<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I try to keep it very level-headed, just because that\u2019s so important in golf. You can\u2019t get too far ahead, because it can be taken from you almost like it was taken from me (today). I\u2019m super glad it\u2019s over, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Grand<\/p>\n

Grand Forks Red River’s Kolby Koerner hugs his mom Kelly McLeod after winning the North Dakota Class A Boys State Golf Championship on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at the Oxbow Country Club. <\/p>\n

Chris Flynn \/ The Forum<\/p>\n

ND Class A boys golf tournament<\/p>\n

Team totals: Minot, 319\u2013306\u2014625; Grand Forks Red River, 317\u2013308\u2014625; Williston, 322\u2013317\u2014639; Minot North, 323\u2013318\u2014641; Fargo Shanley, 335\u2013322\u2014657; Mandan, 335\u2013323\u2014658; West Fargo, 326\u2013332\u2014658; West Fargo Sheyenne, 336\u2013323\u2014659; Fargo Davies, 326\u2013334\u2014660; Bismarck Century, 339\u2013325\u2014664; Bismarck Legacy, 345\u2013338\u2014683; Grand Forks Central, 343\u2013341\u2014684.<\/p>\n

Individual results: Kolby Koerner, Grand Forks Red River, 73\u201374\u2014147; Ryker Grinaker, Fargo Shanley, 76\u201372\u2014148; Tripp Toepfer, Minot, 78\u201373\u2014151; Stetsen Brown, Grand Forks Red River, 78\u201374\u2014152; Kyler Weishaar, Minot North, 79\u201373\u2014152; Carter Hushagen, Horace, 77\u201376\u2014153; Kane Shannon, Williston, 80\u201374\u2014154; Connor Peterson, Fargo Davies, 77\u201378\u2014155; Jaxon Bennett, Horace, 77\u201380\u2014157; Shea Tollefson, West Fargo Sheyenne, 79\u201378\u2014157; Ryan Zreik, Fargo Shanley, 84\u201373\u2014157; Parker Argent, Minot, 78\u201379\u2014157; Quinn Shillingstad, Bismarck St. Mary\u2019s, 83\u201375\u2014158; Mason Bolstad, Williston, 80\u201378\u2014158; Henning Gibbs, Grand Forks Central, 78\u201380\u2014158; Carl Deboer, Fargo North, 80\u201378\u2014158; Jacobi Sunram, West Fargo, 78\u201381\u2014159; Nathan Peterson, Minot, 83\u201377\u2014160; Evan Fisher, Williston, 79\u201381\u2014160; Trace Mattson, Horace, 84\u201376\u2014160; Teegan Dangel, Minot North, 77\u201383\u2014160; Kire Isaacson, Mandan, 81\u201380\u2014161; Gabe Bast, Dickinson, 83\u201379\u2014162; Fynn Sagsveen, Bismarck Century, 81\u201381\u2014162; Jacob Walch, Mandan, 86\u201376\u2014162; Blake Engstrom, Horace, 82\u201380\u2014162; Kayden Arnold, Bismarck Legacy, 84\u201379\u2014163; Silas Dusenbury, Grand Forks Red River, 85\u201378\u2014163; Josiah Clarey, Fargo North, 82\u201381\u2014163; Jude Clapp, West Fargo Sheyenne, 84\u201379\u2014163; Jack Josephsen, West Fargo, 78\u201385\u2014163; Jackson Bergman, Grand Forks Central, 85\u201379\u2014164; Kyler Bydal, Grand Forks Red River, 82\u201382\u2014164; Duncan Metcalf, Fargo Davies, 85\u201380\u2014165; Kaden Carlson, Minot North, 86\u201379\u2014165; Tristan Wynn, West Fargo, 82\u201383\u2014165; Carter Bates, West Fargo, 83\u201383\u2014166; Myles Tanabe, Grand Forks Red River, 82\u201384\u2014166; Braxton Boline, Devils Lake, 87\u201380\u2014167; Dylan Rogne, Fargo South, 86\u201382\u2014168; Paxton Fridley, Dickinson, 82\u201386\u2014168; Bryson Fischer, Bismarck Century, 90\u201378\u2014168; Easton Bradley, Minot, 85\u201383\u2014168; Connor Ressler, Minot, 90\u201377\u2014167; Soren Ristvedt, West Fargo, 83\u201384\u2014167; Paxton Wallner, Minot, 89\u201378\u2014167; Noah Anderson, Williston, 83\u201384\u2014167; Halo Bucholz, West Fargo, 87\u201382\u2014169; Ethan Eiler, Fargo South, 88\u201381\u2014169; Andersen Blaskowski, Bismarck Century, 86\u201383\u2014169; Noah Schmidt, Fargo Davies, 81\u201388\u2014169; Jacob McCanna, West Fargo, 86\u201384\u2014170; Ryker Stahl, Minot North, 81\u201389\u2014170; Brody Horner, Bismarck St. Mary\u2019s, 86\u201384\u2014170; Dayce Keplin, Mandan, 88\u201382\u2014170; Jake Bakken, Grand Forks Red River, 84\u201386\u2014170; Camren Haase, Bismarck High, 82\u201388\u2014170; Jacob Reeves, Watford City, 85\u201387\u2014172; Kyler Flack, Wahpeton, 91\u201382\u2014173; Ethan Lower, Fargo Shanley, 87\u201386\u2014173; Maxwell Splonskowski, Bismarck Century, 90\u201383\u2014173; Evan Sandman, Fargo North, 93\u201381\u2014174; Kaleb Leith, West Fargo Sheyenne, 86\u201388\u2014174; Peyton Miller, Wahpeton, 86\u201388\u2014174; Walter Langhans, Minot North, 91\u201383\u2014174; Trygve Zunich, Williston, 88\u201386\u2014174; Konnor Winter, Watford City, 85\u201391\u2014176; Byrton Kuenzel, Grand Forks Red River, 88\u201388\u2014176; Gracin Kaste, Wahpeton, 85\u201391\u2014176; Kole Gress, Fargo Shanley, 87\u201389\u2014176; Mason Zarak, Fargo Davies, 83\u201393\u2014176; Kaleb Ulberg, Mandan, 92\u201385\u2014177; Vincent Wagner, Bismarck Legacy, 87\u201391\u2014178; Aiden Simek, West Fargo, 87\u201391\u2014178; Kellen Schauer, West Fargo Sheyenne, 87\u201391\u2014178; Afton Bartz, Bismarck Century, 88\u201390\u2014178; Brandon Broderson, Minot North, 90\u201388\u2014178; Titan Kelsch, Bismarck Legacy, 95\u201384\u2014179; Chase Roberge, Horace, 90\u201389\u2014179; Jenner Runsvold, West Fargo Sheyenne, 93\u201386\u2014179; Charlie Miedema, Grand Forks Central, 90\u201390\u2014180; Koleton Smith, Watford City, 91\u201389\u2014180; CJ Johnson, Fargo Shanley, 86\u201394\u2014180; Cruz Holte, Bismarck Legacy, 90\u201391\u2014181; Finn Cichy, Grand Forks Central, 90\u201392\u2014182; Rylan Swenson, Devils Lake, 90\u201392\u2014182; Thomas Leevers, Devils Lake, 95\u201387\u2014182; Chance Johnson, Fargo Davies, 92\u201390\u2014182; Jack Nybakken, Fargo Davies, 98\u201387\u2014185; Landry Rham, Jamestown, 95\u201390\u2014185; Colin Klein, Bismarck Legacy, 101\u201384\u2014185; Jacob Hollevoet, Bismarck Century, 89\u201397\u2014186; Michael Petersen, Wahpeton, 90\u201396\u2014186; Rory Rivard, Grand Forks Central, 90\u201396\u2014186; Parker Horst, Fargo South, 99\u201388\u2014187; Blake Solberg, Grand Forks Central, 94\u201394\u2014188; Luke Lefevre, Jamestown, 96\u201393\u2014189; Koen Boline, Devils Lake, 95\u201395\u2014190; Patrick Leevers, Devils Lake, 98\u201399\u2014197. DQ: Jace Runsvold, West Fargo Sheyenne, 76\u201380\u2014156; Drew Anderson, Williston, 87\u2013+9\u2014(WD).<\/p>\n

\"West<\/p>\n

West Fargo Horace’s Jaxon Bennett hits a shot out of the bunker during the North Dakota Class A Boys State Golf Championship on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at the Oxbow Country Club. <\/p>\n

Chris Flynn \/ The Forum<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Minot boys golf team poses for photos after winning the North Dakota Class A Boys State Golf Championship on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at the Oxbow Country Club. <\/p>\n

Chris Flynn \/ The Forum<\/p>\n

\"Grand<\/p>\n

Grand Forks Red River’s Kolby Koerner tees off while Fargo Shanley’s Ryker Grinaker watches during the North Dakota Class A Boys State Golf Championship on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at the Oxbow Country Club. <\/p>\n

Chris Flynn \/ The Forum<\/p>\n

\"Minot<\/p>\n

Minot North’s Teegan Dangel tees off during the North Dakota Class A Boys State Golf Championship on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at the Oxbow Country Club.<\/p>\n

Chris Flynn \/ The Forum<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"OXBOW, N.D. \u2014 Following his final putt on the 18th green, Kolby Koerner let out a long exhale.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":684360,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[71],"tags":[297599,297600,427,297601,204473,297602,297603,297604,297605,297606,297607,99],"class_list":["post-684359","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-golf","tag-boys-golf","tag-class-a-golf","tag-golf","tag-grand-forks-red-river-boys-golf","tag-inforum","tag-infourm-sports","tag-kolby-koerner","tag-nd-class-a-boys-golf","tag-north-dakota-boys-golf","tag-red-river-golf","tag-red-river-roughriders","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/684359","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=684359"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/684359\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/684360"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=684359"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=684359"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=684359"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}