Bennion fights back: Jamestown freshman comes from 14th to finish in third place

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Jamestown’s Sierra Bennion putts at the East-West Classic Monday at the Jamestown Country Club.

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Sierra Bennion came roaring back after struggling on the first day of Tuesday’s action at the Jamestown Country Club.

The Jamestown High School freshman carded a tournament-round best 75 to move all the way up from 14th place and to third at the Lifetime Vision Source East-West Classic.

“With her length on a short course, if she keeps the ball in play, she’s gonna have birdie opportunities, and she did,” Jamestown coach Dean Kraft said. “She converted. That’s the kind of golf she’s ultimately capable of.”

Bennion shot an 87 on Monday of the two-day tournament, after missing numerous fairways off the tee box. However, she recovered, finishing just four strokes out of the lead with a 162.

“She’s experienced enough,” Kraft said. “We definitely expect her to be the scoring leader for us.”

Consistency was a big key for the medalist — Kathleen Marsh of Fargo Davies. She opened in the top 10 with an 80 the first day and followed it with a 78 for a 158 to edge her sister Jennifer Marsh, who finished with a 159 after a 77 the second day.

Dickinson’s Rachel Jahner had a 163 to finish fourth, while Williston’s Kayla Barke and Fargo North’s Addie Long tied for fifth with 164s.

The Marsh sisters paced Davies to a blowout victory, carding a 654 to beat runner up Fargo North by 30 strokes. Bismarck Century (699) wasn’t far behind, but it was far ahead of fourth-place Dickinson (770) and fifth-place Grand Forks Red River (779).

Even though Bennion improved her score by 12 strokes, the rest of the pack struggled on the second day as the Blue Jays finished a stroke worse. Jamestown took 10th out of 15 teams with an 835 including a 417 the first day.

“Everybody else was kind of all over the map,” Kraft said. “If we’re gonna have a chance to compete down the road, a couple of things have to happen. One, our seventh-graders have to (keep improving) their score. Two, Sierra needs to go out and shoot those kinds of scores. Just about everybody else in the conference has someone who can shoot in that 70s range. You’ve at least got to have one who can go out and be reliable.”

Maria LeFevre was second on the Jays with a 191, and sister Mara LeFevre was third with a 238, while Sarah Azure shot a 247. Kaitlin Mullowney finished with a 253 for Jamestown, which plays at the Bismarck Century Invite at 10 a.m. Saturday at Tom O’Leary Golf Course in Bismarck.

East-West Classic

at Jamestown Country Club

Team scores: 1, Fargo Davies 325-329—654; 2, Fargo North 347-337—684; 3, Bismarck Century 359-341—699; 4, Dickinson 386-384—770; 5, Grand Forks Red River 389-390—779; 6, Minot 399-383—782; 7, West Fargo 405-403—808; 8, Bismarck High 407-412—819; 9, Mandan 425-407—832. 10, Jamestown 417-418—835; 11, Fargo Shanley 428-424—852; 12, Fargo South 432-428—860; 13, Grand Forks Central 435-429—864; 14, Wahpeton 437-433—870; 15, Valley City 510-501—1,011.

Individual top 10

1, Kathleen Marsh, FD, 80-78—158; 2, Jennifer Marsh, FD, 82-77—159; 3, Sierra Bennion, Jamestown, 87-75—162; 4, Rachel Jahner, Dickinson, 82-81—163; 5T, Addie Long, FN, 84-80—164; Kayla Barke, Williston, 84-80—164; 7T, Allyson Meyer, FD, 79-86—165; Cassidy St. Germain, FS, 79-86—165; 9T, Annie Twells, FN, 86-81—167; Ashley Bixby, WF, 82-86—168.

Results by team

Fargo Davies (654): Kathleen Marsh 80-78—158, Jennifer Marsh 82-77—159, Allyson Meyer 79-86—165, Alex Woken 84-88—172, Bailey Gemar 91-92—183, Lexa Brossart 104-101—205.

Fargo North (684): Addie Long 84-80—164, Annie Twells 86-81—167, Hanna Berg 86-86—172, Kenzie Jenson 95-90—185, Keely Spiess 91-97—188, Briana Heskin 105-104—209.

Bismarck Century (699): Annie Nelson 87-84—171, Alex Leidholm 85-87—172, Bri Flynn 92-82—174, Alex Hopkins 94-88—182, Lauren Bischof 98-92—190, Lindsay Reede 102-98—200.

Dickinson (770): Rachel Jahner 82-81—163, Riana Cooper 83-86—169, Jill Mueller 109-99—208, Katherine Kessel 112-118—230, Kelsey Yon 122-127—249.

Grand Forks Red River (779): Cali Halverson 94-88—182, Alexis Caoili 99-102—201, Casey Debeltz 94-109—203, Morgan Hetledved 102-106—208, Betsy Seaver 117-107—224, Hilary Whalen 113-112—225.

Minot (782): Haili Duchscherer 90-88—178, McKinley Bender 103-93—196, Paige Argent 100-108—208, Evie Reynolds 109-102—211, MaKensey Arlien 106-WD—106, Hallie Williamson DNP-107—107, Casara Tessendorf 123-DNP—123.

West Fargo (808): Ashley Bixby 82-86—168, Brittany Rheault 97-101—198, Sierra Peterson 115-111—226, Kennedy Kraft 111-123—234, Ashley Peterson 120-114—234, McCall Brown 120-115—235.

Bismarck (819): Katie Kasper 91-95—186, Sierra Deringer 107-92—199, Ciara Schock 115-94—209, Gretta Gilje 108-102—210, Ashley Doppler 101-121—222, Kylie Bergan 146-114—260.

Mandan (832): Sydnie Mongeon 105-97—202, Kayla Helbling 103-103—206, Megan Broeckel 106-111—217, Devon Corneau 111-117—228, KayCee Schulz 113-123—236.

Jamestown (835): Sierra Bennion 87-75—162, Maria LaFevre 90-101—191, Mara LeFevre 119-119—238, Sarah Azure 124-123—247, Kaitlin Mullowney 132-121—253, Savannah Kramlicz DNP-147—147, Ashlyn Weis 154-DNP—154.

Fargo Shanley (852): Aly Corbid 106-98—204, Payton Thimjon 105-106—211, Abby Armstrong 108-112—220, Grace Dietz 109-112—221, Katey Wold 118-112—230, Marcella Hanson 131-108.

Fargo South (860): Cassidy St. Germain 79-86—165, Emily Grothmann 92-98—200, Abbie Baumann 125-113—238, Maddie Johnson 147-110—257, Katy Weaver 136-122—258, Meredith Grothman 147-155—302.

Grand Forks Central (864): Shaylee Ferguson 100-104—204, Samantha Marshall 109-105—214, Alizjah Swenson 108-109—217, Jordan Reiter 118-120—238, Kaylin Anderson 130-115—245, Frankie Goode 132-130—262.

Wahpeton (870: Kelsey Darwin 107-101—208, Morgan Strand 105-113—218, Emma Rubish 112-106—218, Leslie Hibl 113-109—222, Jessica DeVillers 118-133—251, Katie Meyer 126-135—261.

Valley City (1,011): Kassidy Ronningen 118-104—222, Sara Gilbertson 118-119—237, Saidee Oberlander 124-139—263, Rachel Schueneman 150-139—289, Mikayla Gustafson 151-143—294.

Williston (incomplete): Kayla Barke 84-80—164, Alyssa Wiedrich 120-114—234, Whitney Pflug 125-123—248.

Turtle Mountain (incomplete): Kayana Trottier 113-111—224, Gia Davis 120-126—246, Amber Allery 143-142—285.

Sun sports writer Chris Aarhus can be reached at (701) 952-8462 or by email at caarhus@jamestownsun.com

Tags: sports, golf, jays