Rich and Justesen on Top at Class AA; Holy Family Leads Early

JORDAN, Minn. - Converting three birdie chances over his final nine holes Tuesday allowed Rochester Lourdes High School junior Colton Rich to earn a share of the first-round lead with Hawley High School's Jack Justesen to begin the 2023 Minnesota State High School League Class AA Golf Championship at Ridges at Sand Creek.

Looking to improve on a 10th-place finish at the Class AA Championship in 2023, Rich played his first eight holes in 1-under before a double-bogey at the par-4 ninth put him into red figures for the round.

Sinking back-to-back birdies at the 10th and 11th holes, Rich moved to 1-under, and carded his fifth birdie of the round at the 14th to sit in a share of the lead at 2-under 70.

Playing his first 11 holes in 1-under Tuesday, Justesen would tally back-to-back birdies at the third and fourth holes to pull in front of the field, but would card a bogey at the last, and will begin Wednesday's final round in a share of the lead following his round of 70.

An early eagle and two bogeys to close out his round Wednesday helped Holy Family's P.J. Herron to a round of 1-under 71 to sit alone in third place, one shot back.

Defending individual champion Carter White will need to overcome a two-stroke deficit heading into the final 18 holes of play after posting a round of even par 72 to begin the tournament.

Helped by their top four players finishing the opening round inside the top-20 Tuesday, Holy Family jumped out to the lead in the team competition, shooting a combined score of 297 to take a seven-stroke lead over Detroit Lakes.

The Fire returned all six starters from the 2023 runner-up squad, and will look for the program's first team title since back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019.

The final round of the 2024 MSHSL Class AA Boys Championship is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. at Ridges at Sand Creek.



THE 2024 MSHSL CLASS AA BOYS GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
RIDGES AT SAND CREEK
JORDAN, MINN.
6,655 YARDS, PAR 72


TUESDAY'S FIRST ROUND TEAM RESULTS
1. Holy Family - 297
2. Detroit Lakes - 304
T3. Marshall - 310
T3. Blake - 310
5. Totino-Grace - 312
6. Cloquet - 314
7. Pine Island-Zumbrota-Mazeppa, 315
8. St. Cloud Cathedral - 331


TUESDAY'S FIRST ROUND INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
T1. Jack Justesen, Hawley, 35-35—70
T1. Colton Rich, Rochester Lourdes, 37-33—70
3. P.J. Herron, Holy Family, 36-35—71
T4. Carter White, Staples-Motley, 38-34—72
T4. Luke Ehlers, Marshall, 35-37—72
T4. Collin Ramos, Totino-Grace, 37-35—72
T7. Jayden Manthei, Marshall, 35-38—73
T7. Charlie Hanson, Morris Area, 38-35—73
T7. Zac Kreuzer, Albany, 38-35—73
T7. Brock Burhans, Detroit Lakes, 38-35—73


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