Sierra Bennion finished her strong season on a high note on Tuesday.
The Jamestown eighth-grader improved by 11 strokes on the second and final day at the Class A state golf tournament at Edgewood Golf Course in Fargo.
Bennion, who had the fourth-best scoring average in the West Region this season, finished the state meet with a round of 81, 11 better than her opening-day 92. Her total of 173 earned her a tie for 13th place with Alex Hopkins of Bismarck Century. The top 10 placers earn all-state honors.
Maria LeFevre, the only other JHS golfer in the tournament, finished with a 94 after a 93 on Monday.
Despite a few minor hiccups on the front nine, Grand Forks Red River's JoDee Wheeler carded the top score for the second-consecutive day to capture the North Dakota Class A girls golf title at Edgewood Golf Course. Fargo Davies earned the first team title in program history with a total of 651. Red River was a distant second at 683.
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"I was more nervous today than I was yesterday," said Wheeler, whose 77 on Tuesday was matched only by Davies sophomore Kathleen Marsh. "I was the one to beat because I had the best score. I knew if I wanted to win I had to play well. It was never guaranteed. They wanted to win. They were coming for me."
Wheeler, who also won the East Region individual title, entered the day two strokes ahead of Davies junior Allyson Meyer after a first-day 75.
Davies had another strong day as a team to win the team crown.
Jennifer Marsh finished with 80, Madison Gemar had an 81, Alex Woken carded an 89 and Bailey Gemar chipped in a round of 100.
The Eagles lose Madison Gemar to graduation, but this year's strong showing could position them as favorites again next season.
"We presented a balanced attack," Davies coach Heather Yarber said. "It went really well. We have a solid bunch of girls and I'm proud of them for winning. It's nice to have the second title in Davies school history (cross country in 2010). It's exciting."
Ashley Bixby of West Fargo finished third.
Wheeler was named senior athlete of the year. Fargo North's Jolene Schue was named coach of the year.
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"The biggest thing today was being able to find my composure after having a couple of bad holes, and not letting my whole back nine go downhill," Wheeler said. "It feels good. This is what you work for. This is what I put my time into. I'm excited."
Class A state golf tournament
At Edgewood Golf Course, Fargo
Team results
1, Fargo Davies 651, 1, Grand Forks Red River 683, 3, Fargo North 693, 4, Bismarck Century 707, 5, Minot 728, 6, West Fargo 748, 7, Williston 754, 8, Wahpeton 766, 9, Dickinson 772, 10, Devils Lake 775, 11, Fargo South 796, Bismarck 828.
Top 10 scores (all-state)
1, JoDee Wheeler, GFRR, 152. 2, Kathleen Marsh, FD, 159. 3, Ashley Bixby, WF, 160. 4, Jennifer Marsh, FD, 162. 5, Kayla Barke, Wil, 163. 6, Madison Gemar, FD, 164. 7, Ashley Knecht, GFRR, 165. 8 (tie), Allyson Meyer, FD; Danielle Foster, Minot, 166. 10 (tie), Alex Leidholm, BC; Rachel Jahner, Dickinson, 168.
Other finishers
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Bismarck Century: Hopkins 173, Reede 185, Flynn 187, Nelson 190, Hovland 195.
Fargo North: Twells 171, Long 172, Berg 176, Spiess 179, Jenson 189, Lingbeck 191.
Minot: Duchscherer 173, Bender 190, Reynolds 199, Argent 207, Williamson 220.
Mandan: Helbling 200, Mata 229.
Fargo South: St. Germain 177, Unterseher 191, Grothmann 200, Johnson 233, Baumann 234, Weaver 268.
Devils Lake: J. Brandt 187, K. Brandt 190, Vose 197, Hanson 201.
Williston: Zavalney 190, Peterson 195, Huntly 206, Anderson 245.
Jamestown: Sierra Bennion 173, Maria LeFevre 187.
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Dickinson: Haag 187, Lantz 208, Schara 209, Mueller 210.
West Fargo: Wasem 184, Rheault 200, Johnson 204, Peterson 224, Brown 229.
Valley City: Anderson 189.
Bismarck: Kasper 200, Doppler 205, Schock 207, Gilje 216, Waldbillig 244, Craven 244.
Fargo Davies: Woken 187, B. Gemar 189.
Wahpeton: Irwin 181, Haselhorst 184, Strand 198, Darwin 203, Hibl 214, Rubish 225.
Grand Forks Red River: Halverson 181, Debeltz 188, Holmen 193.
