Late Birdies Give Stendahl Lead at Minnesota State Junior Boys' Championship

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  SPICER, Minn. – With a pair of top-3 finishes at the Minnesota State Junior Boys’ Championship over the past two seasons, Ryan Stendahl took a step closer to collecting his first state victory Monday, shooting 3-under 69 to take the first-round lead at Little Crow Country Club.

A pair of birdies on his final two holes will send Stendahl into Tuesday’s second round with a one-stroke lead over Blake Forrest, Mick Herron and Max Wilson.

Stendahl, a soon-to-be senior at Maple Grove High School this fall, carded three birdies over a five-hole span during his front nine to help him turn in 2-under for the championship.

Giving back a stroke with a bogey at the par-5 13th, Stendahl answered with birdies at the 17th and 18th to sit atop the leaderboard after 18 holes of play.

Forrest, who closed out his high school career at Maple Grove with a 32nd-place finish at the Class AAA championship last month, began his opening round on the 10th tee Monday, bouncing back from an early bogey by carding birdies at the 15th and 17th holes.

Playing his back nine at 1-over through seven holes, Forrest sank back-to-back birdie opportunities to finish the first round tied for second at 2-under 70.

Sitting at 3-over through 11 holes Monday, Herron found his stride by carding five birdies over his final seven holes to quickly move up the leaderboard, into a share of second at 2-under 70.

Even through his first 16 holes, Wilson sank a pair of birdie looks at his 17th and 18th holes to sit one back of the lead, tied for second.

The 97th Minnesota State Junior Boys’ Championship continues Tuesday when the second round gets underway at 7:30 a.m. at Little Crow Country Club.