Young Jays making progress

• Sarah Azure

(Dean Kraft / For The Sun) Sarah Azure, a seventh-grader, hits an iron shot during the Bismarck High School Invite on Monday at Apple Creek Golf Course.

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Steady progress continues to be the theme for the Blue Jay girls golf team.

Freshman Sierra Bennion again led the way at Bismarck’s Apple Creek, earning a top 10 finish to pace Jamestown, which came in fifth as a team.

“The team score was OK,” coach Dean Kraft said. “Need a little better at the top and bottom to do the best we can, but we are starting to see good steps in the right direction.”

Bennion finished sixth on Monday, the first of back-to-back West Region meets. Today’s round will be played at Mandan’s Prairie West Golf Course and will serve as the individual qualifier, meaning anyone within 15 shots of the lead earns a trip to state.

Bennion went out in 43, but needed three fewer strokes on the final 9.

“We’ve put some finishing touches on the work she needs to complete leading into postseason. Today, a good trial by fire,” Kraft said. “She’s really working on her lower body to create more power and torque plus some consistency. … Her short game and iron play still need some refinement but we feel good that things will fall into place soon.”

Maria LeFevre’s 91 put her just outside of the top 10.

“Maria showed some game today, she’s getting much straighter so the golf courses become more narrow and playable for her,” Kraft said. “She looks like she’s trending in the right direction. … Good practice work for her the last couple of weeks. She’s very coachable.”

Seventh-grader Sarah Azure finished at 110 and showed promise, Kraft said.

“Like with any seventh-grader, she needs to learn a lot, the courses, a short game, putting and being competitive, but she is also moving in the right direction,” he said.

Kaitlin Mullowney (126), Lara LeFevre (126) and Savannah Kramlich (128) rounded out the JHS lineup. Getting off to better starts are they key for the trio, Kraft said.

“(They) all have a lot of work to do but their enthusiasm is off the charts,” he said.

Bismarck Century’s Annie Nelson took medalist honors at 75 to help the Patriots to the team title. Dickinson’s Rachel Jahner was one back with a 76.

Bismarck Invitational Golf

Apple Creek, Bismarck

Team results

1. Century 333. 2. Dickinson 363. 3. Minot 372. 4. Bismarck 380. 5. Jamestown 410. 6. Williston 418. 7. Turtle Mountain 512.

Top 10 individuals

1. Annie Nelson, Cen, 75. 2. Rachel Jahner, D, 76. 3. Riana Cooper, D, 77. 4. Kayla Barke, Will, 78. 5. Bri Flynn, Cen, 82. 6. Sierra Bennion, J, 83. 7. Haili Duchscherer, Min, 84. 8. Alex Leidholm, Cen, 86. 9. Katie Kasper, Bis, 88. 10. (tie) Alex Hopkins, Cen, and McKinley Bender, Min, 90.

By team

Century (333): Annie Nelson 75, Bri Flynn 82, Alex Leidholm 86, Alex Hopkins 90.

Dickinson (363): Rachel Jahner 76, Riana Cooper 77, Rachel Lantz 102, Kelsey Yon 108.

Minot (372): Haili Duchscherer 84, McKinley Bender 90, Paige Argent 96, Evie Reynolds 102.

Bismarck (380): Katie Kasper 88, Taylor Miller 93, Gretta Gilje 99, Ashley Doppler 100.

Jamestown (410): Sierra Bennion 83, Maria LeFevre 91, Sarah Azure 110, Mara LeFevre 126, Kaitlin Mullowney 126.

Williston (418): Kayla Barke 78, Alyssa Wiedrich 112, Aleisa Tower 112, Whitney Pflug 116.

Turtle Mountain (512): Gia Davis 114, Christin Gillis 123, Amber Allery 136, Lakota Keplin 139.

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

Tags: sports, jays, golf