PARK RAPIDS — Fresh off an eight-stroke victory over two teams ranked in the state’s top 20, the Brainerd Warriors are poised to make history.
The state’s fifth-ranked Warriors will open Section 8-3A play Wednesday, May 27, at Headwaters Country Club in Park Rapids to become the program’s first state-qualifying squad. They’ll find out if they advance to the Class 3A Tournament following the section final round on Thursday, May 28.
Brainerd just won the Central Lakes Conference Championship with a two-day and 3-under 569 score. Brainerd opened with an 8-under 276 at its home course, Cragun’s Legacy Courses. It followed it with a 293 in Day Two of the competition.
Section 8-3A Final
What: Boys golf
Who: Brainerd Warriors
When: Wednesday, May 27, and Thursday, May 28
Where: Headwaters Golf Club, Park Rapids
“They won nine of the 13 meets that they played in this year,” Brainerd head coach Tim Johnson said. “It’s not a fluke. They’re trending and they play well every week. It’s all six guys. It’s not four guys needing to play well to get the win. We need four of the six to play well and they will play well.
“They have a ton of confidence.”
Sophomore and two-time state qualifier Brady Oseland won the individual title with a 5-under 138 (65-73). Seniors Drew Haakonson, who missed his entire junior season because of injury, and Jack Hagberg placed third with even-par 143s. Junior Alex Imgrund finished eighth at 2-over, followed by sophomore Aydan Dobis, who qualified for state last season, and his 12th-place 149 and sophomore Drew Christensen in 25th
Brainerd’s Aydan Dobis looks at this shot during Day One of the Central Lakes Conference Championship on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Cragun’s Legacy Courses.
Conrad Engstrom / Brainerd Dispatch
“The only thing that scares me is we haven’t had any competition for a week,” Johnson said. “I know these guys. They are out at the course playing every day. It’s not like they’re going to find a lull. These kids don’t take any time off. They live and breathe golf. They are grinding and practicing. I’m not worried about them.”
Hagberg paced the Warriors in the Tips at Vic event May 14 with a 3-over 74. Brainerd tied for first with Waconia at the Victory Links Golf Course. Christensen’s 6-under 65 helped Brainerd to an 8-under 276 May 11 in the Warrior Invite at Cragun’s. The Warriors finished fifth in the Northwest Classic May 8 at Detroit Country Club, with Imgrund’s seventh-place finish leading the way.
Brainerd won the two-day Dacotah Ridge Invite May 1 at Dacotah Ridge Golf Club in Morton with a 579. Oseland won the individual title, with Haakonson in third, just three strokes back.
Johnson said Alexandria will be Brainerd’s top competition at sections, with Sartell and Bemidji having the ability to throw scores up on the leaderboard.
The coach said getting off the tee box shouldn’t be an issue for Brainerd, but he said the focus will be the greens.
The Warriors know what’s at stake even if they’re not talking about it.
“We don’t really bring it up and we don’t talk about it,” Johnson said. “They probably know, but the biggest thing is they just need to keep doing what they’re doing. I don’t want to put the cart in front of the horse. If we get there, then I’ll start talking about what we’ve accomplished. We have two more steps in our goals. They understand that, too. They’re very humble about it, but they’re very confident.”
Covering the Brainerd lakes area sports scene for the past 23 years.