Photo by Samantha Davis. Dawson-Boyd's Claire Stratmoen studies the green during the Class A State Golf Tournament on Tuesday at Pebble Creek in Becker. The Blackjacks currently sit in first place after the first round.

BECKER — The Dawson-Boyd girls golf team and senior Lindsey Lund both lead the Class A State Tournament after the first day of competition, each on the cusp of repeating as state champions. The Murray County Central Rebels also sit fourth as a team with the potential to move up heading into day two.

“It’s definitely a different feeling [this year]. Going up to play the practice rounds, I was like, ‘Oh, last time I was here as a state champ, so it’s definitely emotional being my last time here,” Lund said. “Just trying to go out and play my best.”

The Blackjacks’ day one score of 338 put them in a good position to earn another potential championship, which would be their second consecutive state title after sharing with Fillmore Central last year. Dawson-Boyd currently sits 10 strokes ahead of Park Christian’s second place 348.

“I think [we’re] just staying locked in, knowing that even though we’re up by 10 strokes, it doesn’t matter,” Lund said. “Park Christian could easily come and shoot out of their mind, too. [We have to] try to play our best golf we can tomorrow.”

Lund was last year’s individual Class A champion after carding a 147, one stroke ahead of BOLD’s Kenna Henrikse, and again leads the class so far after shooting a 6-over 78 with 12 pars. She shot a 39 on the front and back 9.

Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City’s Brooke Brekke follows one stroke behind Lund for second place with a 7-over 79.

Lund and Brekke also went neck-and-neck in the Class 5A Section Tournament, Lund edging out her opponent again by a single stroke.

“I know I have to come and show up and play tomorrow with Brooke Brekke on my back by one stroke,” Lund said. “It’s hard, but I’ll get a little practice in before I leave today.”

Lund shot an 80 in the first round of last year’s tournament, bettering her score by a stroke this time around at Pebble Creek.

Freshman Claire Stratmoen follows behind in fifth place with an 84, and her first-round score of 40 marked a new career low. She also recorded a birdie on hole 7, along with eight pars and a birdie.

“I thought [today] was pretty good. It was really nice weather out today, so it was pretty easy to play in,” Stratmoen said. “This was probably one of my best meets I played. I feel like I made contact with the ball pretty well today.”

Alyssa Swedzinski and Kylar Hjelmeland are tied for 15th with an 88, and Hjelmeland had a birdie on Hole 4. Laura Schreier rounds out the Blackjacks in 57th with a 103.

Swedzinski is also looking to repeat as a medalist after placing third in last year’s tournament with a 153.

Dawson-Boyd entered the tournament off a strong performance to win the Section 5A Championship with a 671, 90 strokes ahead of Community Christian’s runners-up score.

“Our team has a really strong bond, so it’s really easy to get along,” Stratmoen said. “We all just enjoy the game of golf.”

MCC

MCC, who also made state last year as Section 3A champions, finished opening day with a 377, 11 strokes behind Fillmore Central’s third place of 366.

“I thought we did well. We’re holding onto fourth [place] and I think third is very attainable,” MCC head coach Kim DeLong said. “They always feel like they can improve. But we left some shots out there that we can go for tomorrow. I think third [place] is a goal we can achieve.”

The Rebels finished state last season in eighth place with a 773, and have cleaned up their first round by 37 strokes from a year prior.

“As a team, I feel like we’re all doing really good. We’re all shooting pretty average,” MCC senior Theran Mannon said. “I feel like some of us were probably hoping for better. I know personally I was, but my score I got today was pretty average for me, so I’m not mad. Hoping for a better day two.”

Senior Ava Johnson led the Rebels for 24th place with a 17-over 89, while Rachael Huso trailed for 29th with a 91.

“It’s always tough, you know a couple shots get in your head and [you need] to let that go,” DeLong said. “But, they battled back. They have the drive and they have the determination.”

Johnson won Section 3A individually with a 176, while MCC finished on top with a 748 team score.

Lizzie Daniels, Natalie Einck, Elysia Korver and Mannon currently sit at 61st, 36th, 69th and 77th, respectively.

“It’s so special to be here. It feels really nice, and I love my team so much,” Mannon said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better group.”

Other area individuals

Canby’s Maddison Richter finished the first day in a three-way tie for 12th after a solid performance of an 87, and met par on five holes.

Teigyn O’Leary of Russell-Tyler-Ruthon recorded a pair of birdies on Holes 14 and 15 while shooting par twice for a current standing of 15th.

The Knights’ Jenna Gossen joined her partner for state and finished day one with a 102 for 55th.

Taylor Munson for Tracy-Milroy-Balaton finished the day with a 107 for 67th.

Day two

State champion teams and individuals will be crowned today following the second and final day of the tournament.

Tee off will begin at 7:30 a.m. for the girls tournament at Pebble Creek in Becker. Schreier will get Dawson-Boyd’s action started at 8:30 a.m. on Hole 1 with the rest of the team to follow, as Korver will start for MCC at 8:11 a.m. on the first hole.