FARGO — Have no fear, the course record at Rose Creek Golf Course remains intact after two rounds of the Bobcat North Dakota Open.
The south Fargo public course has held its own against the young professionals on the Dakotas Tour.
Wait, doesn’t Rose Creek have a couple of bunt par-4s and some par-3s that are easy wedges? What is the name of municipal golf is going on? These guys are pros!
Course professional Matt Cook heard the same question. How can his course contain these guys?
“As far as the difficulty, I kind of went at it, I honestly didn’t care,” Cook said during Saturday’s second round. “I thought, “What if someone does shoot 59?’ We might have a few people out here wanting to watch that.”
For the Bobcat, the course is tipped out to its maximum yardage of 6,623 yards, a far cry from the 5,825 Joe Weekender plays from the whites all summer. Plus, they haven’t mowed the rough in a week and green speeds are up.
Then when you add wind and cooler temperatures, Rose so far has come out smelling like one.
Saturday’s cut was 4-under par for the professionals. At the longtime host Fargo Country Club last year, the cut was 2-under. Tournament director Mark Johnson said that’s very comparable.
“And some of those amateur scores, they’re every bit as high as we saw before, so the golf course has held up really well,” Johnson said.
Josh McCollum hits out of a bunker during the Bobcat Open on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, at Rose Creek Golf Course in south Fargo.
David Samson / The Forum
Through two rounds, Henry May, Cody Banach and leader Angus Flanagan each have shot 30 so far on the course’s back nine, a number that would easily put the course record of 62 within reach. But so far, the black-tee record shared by two former Fargo South players and current professionals Tom Hoge and Jack Elliott is safe.
Barely.
Banach fired Saturday’s low round of 63, matching Flanagan’s score on Friday.
Former North Dakota State golfer Nate Deziel, who finished tied for 11th last year as a professional in the Bobcat, has played Rose about 10 times. He’s definitely noticed a change in the tournament setup.
“Absolutely, 100 percent,” said Deziel, who shot his course-best 65 on Saturday and briefly held the lead before the afternoon wave of players went out. “They’ve really outgrown the rough, so it really makes it key to hit fairways in certain spots and then therefore just to hit greens. If you’re not hitting the greens, there’s going to be some dicey lies that you may get.”
Flanagan, who shot 65 on Saturday, is 12-under for the tournament and leads Andrew McCain by three shots. Deziel and Eric Lilleboe are four back at 8-under. The final round is Sunday.
“They did a great job of making it fair but also yet challenging at the same time,” Deziel said. “The wind really plays a factor out here, but other than that, a really well put-together round out here.”
Will Grevlos putts during the Bobcat Open on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at Rose Creek Golf Course in south Fargo.
David Samson / The Forum
So true greens, penal rough and a splash of Mother Nature has been the right recipe.
“We’ve had a few of the golf professionals comment, this is every bit of the test that they wanted,” Johnson said.
Consider it passed. After splitting with Fargo Country Club, Johnson said many area courses were on the table, even Moorhead Country Club, which he said years ago hosted part of the North Dakota Open.
For Cook, the tournament has been a great way to show off his course. So what about 2026? Johnson said there’s yet to be serious discussion with the sponsors about next year’s venue.
“We haven’t talked,” Johnson said. “I think between Bobcat and the Village (Family Service Center) and Fargo Parks, we’ll kind of have a wrap-up meeting and just kind of ask, ‘Is everybody happy?’ Every indication would indicate, ‘Yeah, we are happy.’ But I think until we get a chance to sit down and visit and just make sure everybody’s boxes are getting checked for all the parties involved.”
Tony Albano Jr. tees off on the 17th hole during the Bobcat Open on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at Rose Creek Golf Course in south Fargo.
David Samson / The Forum
Cook said he’d look forward to hosting again. Plus no one has made a mockery of the course so far and birdies are fun, right?
“As a tournament administrator, I’d love to be back next year, but we’ll see next year,” Johnson said. “I thought it worked really well.”
Professionals who made cut
Angus Flanagan (63-65) 128; Andrew McCain (66-65) 131; Nate Deziel (67-65) 132; Eric Lilleboe (64-68) 132; Charles Merzbacher (67-66) 133; Parker Holekamp (68-65) 133; Evan Myers (67-66) 133; Henry May (65-69) 134; Jeff Sorenson (67-67) 134; Cody Banach (72-63) 135; Tim Nielsen (70-65) 135; Josh McCollum (67-68) 135; Gentry Scheve (64-72) 136; Davis Cooper (68-68) 136; Chris Gilman (68-68) 136; Tony Albano Jr. (67-69) 136; Will Grevlos (66-70) 136; Austin Vukovits (64-72) 136.
Angus Flanagan hits an approach shot during the Bobcat Open on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at Rose Creek Golf Course in south Fargo.
David Samson / The Forum
