Carlson and Petersen Earn First State Victories at Twin Cities Junior Championship

BLAINE, Minn. – Sinking back-to-back birdies late in his round Thursday helped Ryder Carlson to a round of 2-under 69 at Victory Links Golf Course to earn a one-stroke victory at the 34th Twin Cities Championship.

“It was a good day—calm, scorable and the greens were receptable,” said Carlson, who earned the first state victory of his career Thursday. “I’ve been struggling off the tee recently and I think I did that better today. I didn’t really miss many greens and not a lot of big mistakes.

“Hopefully this will give me momentum going into the [Minnesota Junior PGA] match play event coming up, but a big boost of confidence.”

Carlson, a soon-to-be senior at Holy Family Catholic School, got off to a sour start with a bogey on his opening hole, but rebounded with a birdie putt from 30 feet at the fourth. He converted a second birdie chance from 12 feet at the fifth to turn in 1-under for the championship.

Similar to his front nine, Carlson took an early bogey to drop to even par before tallying a pair of eight foot birdie putts at the 14th and 15th holes before a lengthy putt at the last to save par, preserving a one-stroke victory over Ford Stofer at 2-under 69.

“I’m coming off a tendonitis injury, so it’s good to finally get over that,” said Carlson. “It’s been a struggle getting over it, but I hung in there.”

An up-and-down front nine saw Stofer card three birdies and three bogeys to turn in even par before getting back into red figures with a birdie at the 16th.

Unable to drop his birdie look at the final hole from 20 feet, Stofer finished in second place with a 1-under 70.

Defending champion Cooper Daikawa posted a 1-over 72 to finish in a share of third place with Lleyton Pound.

Petersen Cruises to First State Title in Girls’ Division

Tallying her first sub-80 round earlier this season, Gabrielle Petersen got help from a pair of birdies late in the round Wednesday to a sizable six-stroke victory in the Girls’ 16-18 Division for the first state victory of her career.

After trading a bogey at the first with a birdie at the second from six feet, Petersen would card three bogeys over her next four holes to turn in 3-over for the championship.

Getting off to a rocky start to her back nine, the Rosemount High School senior carded three consecutive bogeys beginning at the 11th, but rallied with a pair of birdies from tap-in range at both the 14th and 16th holes to get back to 4-over for the tournament.

Despite bogeys at the 17th and 18th holes, Petersen did more than enough to secure her victory by shooting a 6-over 77.

“A win is pretty big, that’s for sure,” Petersen said following her win Thursday. “It’s kind of a shock—I haven’t really fully registered it just yet.

“I’ve had some rough rounds lately, so it was nice to have a good round today. I was happy with my driver because lately I haven’t been hitting it amazing. I was really proud to hit that better.

Taylor Thor carded a 12-over 83 Wednesday to finish in second place, while Abby Fowler finished in third place, shooting 13-over 84.

Helped by three birdies early on his back nine Thursday, Isa Kahn, of Minnesota Youth on Course, earned medalist honors in the Boys’ 13-15 Division by one stroke over Windsong Farm’s Jacob Diebel.

Firing an 8-over 79 lifted Aurie McCoy, of Fox Hollow Golf Club, to a victory in the Girls’ 13-15 Division, three shots ahead of Lucy Oberdorfer, a member of USGA/Minnesota Golf Community.

Ilya Khan, a member of Minnesota Youth on Course, captured the Boys’ 12 & Under Division, while Sapphire Flowers, of the Fairway Foundation, claimed the Girls’ 12 & Under Division.