GRAND FORKS – On the eve of the 2023 NDHSAA Girls Class A State Golf Championship, Minot North golf coach Michael Delorme sat down with his two state qualifiers Emersyn Kopp and Kinzy Welstad to discuss what the girls hoped to accomplish.

“We talked and a goal for both of them was to finish in the top 20,” said Delorme.

After each girl fired an opening round 84, the pair are well-positioned to achieve exactly that, as they sit tied for 17th-place.

“I hit my driver really well all day and left myself in good positions,” said Kopp. “I could have hit my irons better, but I look forward to taking some momentum into tomorrow’s round after parring my last three holes.”

Welstad opened by birding hole one, a 238-yard par 4, and continued her solid play by shooting a 41 on the front nine and 43 on the back nine. Kopp reversed her teammate’s scores, going out with a 43 and coming in with a 41.

While the Minot North duo is competing as individuals, Minot High qualified for the tournament as a team and they made the most of the opening round. The Majettes’ score of 358 marks their low round for a par 72 course. Adison Dittus, Morgan Strange and Cali Wilson all shot 90 or under to pace Minot High.

“Adison and Morgan brought a determined attitude into their second nine and showed improvement,” said Minot High golf coach Scott Foltz.

Dittus carded a birdie on the tenth hole, her opening hole, before stumbling two double bogeys and a triple on three of her next four holes. However, she settled down after making the turn, parring six of her final nine holes on her way to an opening round 86.

Teammate Morgan Strange shot an 88. Strange, also starting on the tenth hole, showed improvement as the day went on. Her second nine score of 42 was four shots ahead of her score on her front nine.

Cali Wilson opened her tournament by shooting a career-best nine-hole score of 40, including four straight pars from holes 12 through 15.

Katie Thomas battled a sore shoulder to gut out a 94, according to Foltz.

“Hopefully, we can find a few strokes tomorrow and improve our final position for the tournament,” said Foltz.

Other Majettes completing Monday’s opening round were Samantha Lentz (113) and Kenadee Burud (118).

Currently, the Majettes find themselves in eighth place, three shots ahead of Fargo Shanley and seven shots better than WDA-rival Bismarck St. Mary’s. Mandan (310), led by Anna Huettl’s 1-under 71, holds a two-stroke lead over Grand Forks Red River (312). West Fargo Sheyenne (321) sits 11 strokes back in third place. Fargo Davies (323) and Wahpeton (343) rounded out the top five.

Today will be bittersweet for Dittus, Strange and Wilson, as the Minot High seniors close out their careers this morning at the Grand Forks Country Club.