Jays' Kraft off to 2-0 start: Jamestown places fourth at Mandan Invitational

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Laura Kraft watches a shot during the Mandan Invite on Thursday at Prairie West. Dean Kraft/For The Sun
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Sierra Bennion finishes her swing during the second meet of the season. Dean Kraft/For The Sun

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Different town, same result for Laura Kraft.

After running away with the season-opening East-West Classic on her home course on Monday and Tuesday, the Jamestown High School senior standout again pulled away from the field to win the Mandan Invitational by six strokes on Thursday.

Kraft’s 14th win of her career included 14 pars, a birdie and three bogeys on a cool, breezy and humid day at Prairie West.

Kraft’s 74 was the lone sub-80 score in the meet.

“She was solid tee to green, but couldn’t get anything to fall on the green,” said coach Dean Kraft. “(She) shot even par on the back and did a great job of protecting her lead once she got it established.”

Kraft’s win highlighted a nice fourth-place overall finish for the Blue Jays, who finished comfortably in front of Williston (417), Mandan (453), Bismarck (492) and Turtle Mountain (526).

“Very pleased with the team effort today,” Kraft said. “With just four girls, it’s important that they all give their best effort.”

Maria LeFevre made marked improvement over the first meet, finishing with a score of 100.

“Maria played great today,” Kraft said. “She also had a great day tee to green, kept her ball in play. If she can continue that and improve her play around the green, we could really see her scores drop.”

Seventh-grader Sierra Bennion (103) and Alyssa Mangin (107) also had their best rounds of the young season.

“Sierra had excellent stretches,” Kraft said. “She took some big numbers on a few holes today. I think as she gets more competitive experience we will see those drop.”

Mangin rallied off a rough opener at Jamestown Country Club earlier in the week.

“Alyssa posted her best score of the year in an unconventional fashion, doing what she could to post her best score possible for the team.”

Bismarck Century had five scores of 86 or less to beat Minot (331-341) for the team title.

The West Region convenes next in Rolla, N.D., for the Turtle Mountain Invite on Monday.

Mandan Invitational

At Prairie West Golf Course

Team results

1. Century 331. 2. Minot 341. 3. Dickinson 359. 4. Jamestown 384. 5. Williston 417. 6. Mandan 453. 7. Bismarck 492. 8. Turtle Mountain 526.

Individual results

Top 5

1. Laura Kraft, Jamestown, 74. 2. McKenzie McMillan, Century, 80. 3. (tie) Krissy Aasen, Century; Danielle Foster, Minot; and Jenna Wellenstein, Dickinson, all 81.

Results by team

Century (331): McKenzie McMillan 80, Krissy Aasen 81. Alexa Dvorak 85. Adrianna Harris 85. Katie Nelson 86. Megan Larson 87.

Minot (341): Danielle Foster 81. Emma Kusick 82. Brooklyn Bender 89. Haili Duchscherer 89. Caremella Johnson 90. Brianna Benjamin 105.

Dickinson (359): Jenna Wellenstein 81. Rachel Jahner 87. Riana Cooper 95. Dani Yon 96. Morgan Kathrein 101. Kira Haag 107.

Jamestown (384): Laura Kraft 74. Maria LeFevre 100. Sierra Bennion 103. Alyssa Mangin 107.

Williston (417): Kayla Barke 86. Anna Peterson 98. Cari Zavalney 105. Irelyn Huntley 128. Rachel Anderson 130. Kylee Meyer 154.

Mandan (463): Anna Helmers 84. Mercedes Mata 118. Sydnie Mongeon 121. Kayla Helbling 130. Kala Senger 135. Brooke Ternes 139.

Bismarck (492): Sierra Deringer 117. Kendra Ford 117. Gretta Gilje 129. Katie Kasper 129. Kylie Fettig 133.

Turtle Mountain (526): Laine Lyons 125. Michelle Malaterre 129.Kayana Trottier 133. Kristin Azure 139.

Sun sports editor Dave Selvig can be reached at (701) 952-8460 or by e-mail at daves@jamestownsun.com

Tags: sports, golf, jays, kraft