FARGO — When the stakes were at their highest, Zoe Keene rose to the challenge.
Four shots down of leader Rose Solberg entering final-round play Tuesday at Fargo Country Club, the West Fargo Sheyenne senior clawed her way back to force a playoff against the Fargo Davies senior to determine this year’s North Dakota Class A girls golf individual state champion.
The competitors — who had jostled for position on the leaderboard for much of their careers — needed two extra holes to decide the champion.
After sharing pars on the first playoff hole, the 270-yard No. 18, Keene stuck her short approach on the 332-yard 10th to about 15 feet. Solberg, who mishit her second shot, left her third shot short of the green, allowing Keene to complete a remarkable comeback and secure medalist honors with a two-putt par.
“I knew that if I just stuck with it and did everything I’ve practiced to do, I’d come out on top,” Keene said.
West Fargo Sheyenne golf players run onto the green to hug teammate Zoe Keene after she won the North Dakota High School Class A Girls Golf State Tournament on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at the Fargo Country Club.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Solberg held a one-stroke lead entering the hole of regulation on No. 18. Keene birdied while Solberg missed her birdie attempt to send the duo to extras.
“It’s a lot (of pressure),” Keene said. “But it’s fun. I really like the pressure. I feel like that’s really what separates you, is if you’re able to handle the pressure better than the other person. That’s what does it.”
Keene finished Day 2 with a 3-under 69 for a two-day total of 3-under 141. Solberg’s 141 was capped with a 1-over 73 on the final day.
Keene ended her final round with two birdies, one bogey and an eagle on the 402-yard No. 5 that played a major role in keeping her in contention at all.
“That was a big momentum swing for me for sure,” Keene said. “Because I think I parred the rest out (on the front nine). That was big momentum.”
West Fargo Sheyenne’s Zoe Keene tees off during the North Dakota High School Class A Girls Golf State Tournament on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at the Fargo Country Club.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
After a 4-under 68 on Day 1, Solberg found herself struggling in the final round — particularly on the back nine. She finished the day with five birdies, two bogeys and two double bogeys.
That included bogeys on No. 10 and No. 13 and a double on No. 12. In the opening round, Solberg parred 10 and 12 and birdied 13.
Solberg said her short game ultimately cost her.
“There were some putts that I thought would go in but didn’t,” Solberg said. “It was my putting (today).”
On the second playoff hole, Solberg’s drive cut through a tree on the right side of the fairway. From there, she was forced to make a decision on her third shot that fell short of the green.
“It luckily went through the tree in a good way,” Solberg said. “I think I was 130 (yards) out with six paces from the front. Because of those six paces, you kind of want to lay it short and it put me in between two clubs.
“I went with the lower one as you could tell. It just left me in an interesting chipping spot that I wasn’t very comfortable with I guess.”
Fargo Davies’ Rose Solberg chips the ball onto the green during the North Dakota High School Class A Girls Golf State Tournament on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at the Fargo Country Club.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Solberg was named Class A girls golf Senior Athlete of the Year. The
University of Minnesota commit
finished her high school career with five all-state tournament finishes, a state title as a freshman and many more accolades to boot.
Keene said she wouldn’t have wanted to battle it out with anybody else.
“It’s really fun, she’s such a nice person,” Keene said. “Getting to end it with her is really a big accomplishment for me. She’s done so well and I’m so proud of her.”
Fargo Davies’ Rose Solberg congratulates West Fargo Sheyenne’s Zoe Keene on her championship win during the North Dakota High School Class A Girls Golf State Tournament on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at the Fargo Country Club.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Keene also became the first girls golfer at Sheyenne to win an individual state title.
“I’ve put in a lot of time to this sport,” Keene said. “It’s satisfying to be able to end with a win.”
Mustangs cap historic unbeaten season with team title
Following the final playoff hole, Keene was quick to recognize her Sheyenne teammates. After all, Mustangs head coach Dan Wolf likes to emphasize a “team first” mentality to his players.
Along with individual medalist honors, Keene’s 69 also paced Sheyenne in team scoring to help the Mustangs cap a historic undefeated season with their first-ever team championship.
Sheynne finished with a 14-over 302 to end with a two-day total of 595, which is a new two-day state record.
West Fargo Sheyenne poses for a photo after winning the North Dakota High School Class A Girls Golf State Tournament championship on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at the Fargo Country Club.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
The Mustangs topped runner-up Mandan by 41 strokes, with the Braves recording a two-day 636. Defending team champion Grand Forks Red River came home third with a 641.
“You talk to athletes all the time about working hard and doing the right things,” Wolf said. “And perseverance and grit and resiliency and how it pays off. And to see it actually pay off for them … Last year was a bitter pill to swallow. But I think we learned a lot, we grew and we made it pay off this year.
“It’s just so gratifying to see that for these girls.”
West Fargo Sheyenne’s players hug teammate Zoe Keene after she won the North Dakota High School Class A Girls Golf State Tournament on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at the Fargo Country Club.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
The Mustangs rolled through an unbeaten season in 2024 before coming up a bit short to the Roughriders at the state tournament.
This year, the script ended with the Mustangs on top.
“It’s just so unbelievable because we worked so hard over the summer,” junior Ava Keene said. “Just to get redemption from last year.”
Following Zoe Keene in team scoring on Day 2 were Ava Keene with a 3-over 75, junior Julia Melhus with a 6-over 78 and junior Aubrey Sellheim with an 8-over 80.
Senior Payton Stocker also fired a final-round 9-over 81 for the Mustangs while senior Addy Bjerke recorded a 15-over 87.
“It’s just the hard work,” Wolf said. “The amount of time they played, the summer tournaments, the time in the offseason. We talk about in-season, we can help you shave a few strokes. But you become a really good player in the summer with the work you put in.”
Wolf, who was named Class A girls golf Coach of the Year, used Zoe Keene as a prime example of the team’s improvement over the years.
“Zoe, when she was an eighth-grader, broke 100 for the first time and she was so excited at the state tournament,” Wolf said. “And now, four years later, just the amount of work that she’s put in to become this good, it’s amazing to see.”
Results Tuesday
ND Class A girls golf tournament
At Fargo Country Club
Final of two rounds
Team totals: West Fargo Sheyenne, 293-302—595; Mandan 313-323—636; Grand Forks Red River, 317-324—641; Fargo Shanley 330-319—649; Fargo Davies, 332-357—689; Minot North, 340-354—694; Wahpeton, 344-362—706; Bismarck Century, 363-352—715; Bismarck St. Mary’s, 363-356—719; Grand Forks Central, 357-362—719; Bismarck Legacy, 361-364—725; Williston, 371-377—748;
Individual results: Zoe Keene, West Fargo Sheyenne, 72-69—141; Rose Solberg, Fargo Davies, 68-73—141; Alexis Fabian, Grand Forks Red River, 71-77—148; Ella Speidel, Grand Forks Red River, 74-74—148; Ava Keene, West Fargo Sheyenne, 74-75—149; Isabella Hale, Mandan, 71-80—151; Julia Melhus, West Fargo Sheyenne, 75-78—153; Payton Stocker, West Fargo Sheyenne, 72-81—153; Lola Huber, Bismarck St. Mary’s, 75-79—154; Lauren Graveline, Fargo Shanley, 80-76—156; Brooklyn Monteith, Mandan, 81-78—159; Anika Astrup, Fargo Shanley, 81-79—160; Rawni Roemmich, Bismarck Legacy, 81-79—160; Claire Langenwalter, Wahpeton, 76-84—160; Brittyn Mettler, Mandan, 77-84—161; Emersyn Kopp, Minot North, 80-83—163; Brynn Korbl, Fargo South, 79-84—163; Mikayla Schwindt, Dickinson, 83-80—163; Ashlen Larsen, Bismarck Century, 85-79—164; Kinzy Welstad, Minot North, 79-86—165; Katie Thomas, Minot, 85-81—166; Lauren Soholt, Grand Forks Red River, 80-86—166; Ella Peters, Grand Forks Central, 84-83—167; Kali Larsen, Williston Coyotes, 87-81—168; Izzy Tillisch, Fargo Shanley, 88-81—169; Ava Cooper, Fargo Shanley, 81-88—169; Kyndall Peterson, Dickinson, 81-88—169; Aliya Copas, Mandan, 89-81—170; Ella Hogan, Watford City, 86-88—174; Ella Langenwalter, Wahpeton, 85-89—174; Mylee Michel, Jamestown, 90-84—174; Taylor Deslauriers, Minot, 89-85—174; Ellie Svoboda, Grand Forks Central, 80-94—174; Vanessa Borr, Fargo Shanley, 92-83—175; Stray Ressler, Mandan, 84-91—175; Taylor Sandin, Fargo Shanley, 90-86—176; Aubrey Sellheim, West Fargo Sheyenne, 97-80—177; Sidney Elliott, Fargo Davies, 81-96—177; Peyton Kalanek, Bismarck Legacy, 86-92—178; Addy Bjerke, West Fargo Sheyenne, 92-87—179; Harlee Olson, Watford City, 87-92—179; Katelyn Bast, Minot North, 88-92—180; Dani Tinklenberg, Williston Coyotes, 89-91—180; Brooke Rosenberg, Wahpeton, 88-94—182; Morgan Rieger, Bismarck St. Mary’s, 91-91—182; Madison Dutoit, Bismarck Century, 88-95—183; Landry Thompson, Grand Forks Central, 93-91—184; Delia Sims, Fargo Davies, 89-96—185; Kate Wilson, Bismarck St. Mary’s, 98-88—186; Sophia Gange, Bismarck Century, 96-90—186; Sloane Tentis, Mandan, 91-95—186; Haylee Bushaw, Bismarck Century, 94-93—187; Braelyn Wiese, Jamestown, 87-101—188; Izzy Johnson, Fargo North, 96-92—188; Ellie Greenberg, Grand Forks Red River, 96-93—189; Brooke Evans, Grand Forks Red River, 92-97—189; Haylee Greff, Bismarck Legacy, 96-95—191; Brooklyn Stachowski, Fargo Davies, 101-92—193; Anna Peterson, Fargo Davies, 94-99—193; Ella Gravos, Watford City, 92-101—193; Adalyn Gaube, Bismarck Century, 96-98—194; Jocelyn Kuhl, Grand Forks Central, 100-94—194; Claire Woods, Wahpeton, 99-95—194; Claire Gange, Bismarck Century, 106-90—196; Abigail Speer, Minot North, 103-93—196; Autumn Nordhougen, Fargo Davies, 95-101—196; Ally Larson, Minot North, 93-103—196; Anyka Wiedrich, Williston Coyotes, 91-105—196; Emma Skarperud, Grand Forks Red River, 110-87—197; Kate Grossman, Bismarck Legacy, 99-98—197; Rozzi Horner, Bismarck St. Mary’s, 100-98—198; Anna Lemoine, Bismarck Legacy, 103-98—201; Sutton Bennett, Horace, 101-100—201; Zander Wald, Bismarck Legacy, 98-103—201; Addie Zimmerman, Bismarck St. Mary’s, 99-103—202; Tenley Hills, Wahpeton, 95-108—203; Julia Dohman, Wahpeton, 100-103—203; Julie Heller, Williston Coyotes, 104-100—204; Lily Wilson, Bismarck St. Mary’s, 103-103—206; Miyah Fundingsland, Minot North, 103-108—211; Abby Johnson, Williston Coyotes, 104-108—212; Aslyn Engh, Williston Coyotes, 108-106—214; Reese Meagher, Grand Forks Central, 108-108—216; Olivia Trapnell, Grand Forks Central, 106-111—217. WD: Claire Hendrickson, Minot.
West Fargo Sheyenne’s Zoe Keene looks at the hole through a scope alongside her coach during the North Dakota High School Class A Girls Golf State Tournament on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at the Fargo Country Club.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
West Fargo Sheyenne players cheer for teammate Zoe Keene on the 18th hole during the North Dakota High School Class A Girls Golf State Tournament on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at the Fargo Country Club.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Mandan’s Isabella Hale chips the ball onto the green during the North Dakota High School Class A Girls Golf State Tournament on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at the Fargo Country Club.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Grand Forks Red River’s Alexis Fabian watches her ball move on the green during the North Dakota High School Class A Girls Golf State Tournament on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at the Fargo Country Club.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Fargo Davies’ Rose Solberg tees off during the North Dakota High School Class A Girls Golf State Tournament on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at the Fargo Country Club.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
