Back in Class AA, Detroit Lakes Girls are Back on Top at State Tourney

JORDAN, Minn. - Lifted by two birdies over her final two holes Tuesday, International Falls High School senior Kelby Anderson posted a round of 2-over 74 to earn a share of the first-round lead with Holy Angels' Elizabeth Fong at the 2024 Class AA Minnesota State High School League Championship.

Teeing off on the 10th hole Wednesday, Anderson tallied four bogeys over her first 14 holes to sit at 4-over par before taking advantage of the par-5 seventh hole and carded her first birdie of the round.

Anderson converted her birdie chance on the ensuing hole, finishing her opening round with a par at the last to sit tied atop the leaderboard at 74.

Fong, an eighth-grader for the Stars, also found her stride on the back nine Tuesday, playing her first nine holes in 4-over before rattling off four consecutive birdies to draw even for the championship.

Following a double-bogey at the 14th, Fong dropped back to 3-over with a bogey at the par-3 15th.

She would finish on a high note with a birdie at the par-3 17th to join Anderson for the opening-round lead at 2-over 74.

Sophie Cook, a junior from Hawley High School, tallied a final-round 73 at last year's championship to finish as runner-up, three shots off the lead.

On Tuesday, Cook carded a pair of birdies against three bogeys during her front nine to turn in 1-over, but stumbled over the final nine holes with four bogeys to card a 5-over 77.

She will begin the final round in third place, three shots back.

Returning to Class AA for the 2024 season, the girls from Detroit Lakes are back on top once again after claiming six team titles over a seven-year span beginning in 2012.

The Lakers tallied an opening-round team score of 327, and will take an 11-stroke advantage over 2022 team champions Lake City.

Led by senior Laura Syltie's round of 81 Tuesday, the Lakers also got contributions from senior Hanna Knoop, junior Sydney Miller and freshman Jaycie Slipper, who each carded a 10-over 82.

The final round of the 2024 MSHSL Girls' Class AA Championship is scheduled to begin at noon Wednesday at Ridges at Sand Creek.



THE 2024 MSHSL GIRLS' CLASS AA GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
RIDGES AT SAND CREEK
JORDAN, MINN.
5,323 YARDS, PAR 72


TUESDAY'S FIRST ROUND TEAM RESULTS
1. Detroit Lakes - 327
2. Lake City - 338
3. Minnewaska - 345
T4. Hill-Murray - 355
T4. Pequot Lakes - 355
6. Legacy Christian Academy - 360
7. Holy Family - 368
8. Rock Ridge - 392


TUESDAY'S FIRST ROUND INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
T1. Kelby Anderson, Int'l Falls, 36-38—74
T1. Elizabeth Fong, Holy Angels, 40-34—74
3. Sophie Cook, Hawley, 37-40—77
T4. Mila Jenniges, Redwood Valley, 40-38—78
T4. Jordana Windhorst-Knudsen, Lake City, 40-38—78
T4. Calie Dockter, Byron, 37-41—78
T4. Sophia Anderson, Albany, 40-38—78
T8. Mallory Uselman, Staples-Motley, 38-41—79
T8. Selena Qiao, Breck, 38-41—79
T8. Genevieve Birkeland, Pequot Lakes, 39-40—79
T8. Kendall Hoag, SW Christian Academy, 40-39—79


For complete tournament results go to: www.mshsl.org/2024-state-golf-results