Golf roundup: LQPV earns a state berth by winning section

May 28—WILLMAR — For the first time in his high school career, Lac qui Parle Valley senior Carson Besonen is heading to the Class A state tournament with teammates.

The Eagles’ boys golf team, which trailed Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa by one stroke after Round 1, posted totals of 325 and 333 to capture the Section 5A championship in dominating fashion.

LQPV finished with a total of 658 strokes on Wednesday at Eagle Creek Golf Club. That gave the Eagles a decisive victory over Dawson-Boyd’s 681 and Central Minnesota Christian School’s 686. Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City was fourth at 698 and the Jaguars fell to fifth at 700.

“We’ve worked hard all year and this was our end goal,” Besonen said. “It means a lot to finally get here as a team and it’ll be a lot more fun as a team.”

A state berth as a team has been a long time goal for Besonen, who is set to make his fifth straight appearance at the tournament.

LQPV is set to make its first state appearance since 2019. It is the program’s fifth in its history after its first four came consecutively from 2016-2019.

“For Carson, it was always his goal to get the team there (to state), he’s had the individual success,” said Carson’s father and Eagles boys golf head coach Barry Besonen, who is in his 15th year at the helm. “It’s great that the team can go with him this time.”

Carson’s individual success was in the spotlight in the Section 5A championship.

He won the Section 5A individual title with rounds of 73 and 71 to finish at an even-par 144.

His second round was one-under-par with three birdies on Nos. 1, 3 and 16 and two bogeys on Nos. 8 and 16. In his one-over par first round, Carson carded birdies on Nos. 4, 14 and 17, two bogeys on Nos. 1 and 16 and had one double bogey on No. 9.

“I struggled with the driver off the tee, but I was hitting really good irons,” Besonen said. “I was putting a lot of irons within 15-20 feet, giving myself great looks.”

The Section 5A individual title is the third and final of Carson’s career (2022, 2024, 2025). He was also the runner-up twice (2021, 2023).

“It’s amazing, not only just as a coach, but as his dad,” an emotional, choked up Barry said. “It has been a great ride. That’s all I can say.”

Well, there is not much more to say other than Carson shines at Eagle Creek Golf Club.

“I’ve definitely played really well at the sectional all five years,” Carson said. “I love playing this course. I usually find my game for sections and come through, usually.”

LQPV’s four scoring golfers were in the top 24. Eighth-grader Griffin Kranz placed third with a 161, freshman Noah Arndt tied for 14th at 171 and junior Kaidyn Stender shot a 183 for 24th.

“Other than Carson, we got one other senior (Gavin Carl), then we’re pretty young, but most of those kids had played here in the section tournament in the finals last year where we got second” Barry said. “As the season went on, they got more experience, more confidence. … Griffin Kranz took a huge step forward, Noah Arndt took a big step forward. We knew they had talent. It was just a matter of when it was going to start showing up and it did this spring.”

Renville County West senior Ryan Schrupp, ACGC freshman Austin Quale, Benson seventh-grader Connor Larson, Dawson-Boyd sophomore Carson Stratmoen and CMCS sophomore Carter Taatjes are state bound.

The top five individuals outside of the winning team earn state berths.

The New London-Spicer boys area headed to the state tournament after capturing the Section 3AA title at Oakdale Golf Club in Buffalo Lake.

Also heading to state are the Minnewaska girls.

NLS’ boys shot 299 in the second round to finish with a 596. That’s 21 strokes better than second-place New Ulm, which finished with a 617. Minnewaska was fifth with a 638.

Minnewaska’s Zach Gugisberg and New Ulm’s Jaxon Buegler each finished with 140s to tie for the section title. Gugisberg shot a 69 Wednesday. Buegler shot 71.

Gabe Truscinski finished fourth with a 145. Max Truscinski was fifth with a 147. Gabe shot a 74 Wednesday. Max had a 71.

The Minnewaska girls shot a final round 317 to finish at 638, 101 strokes better than second-place NLS, which had a 739. Litchfield finished fifth with an 800.

Sophomore Annika DeBoer won the section title with a 153 after shooting a three-over-par 75 in the final round. Senior Arivia DeBoer took second with a 156 for the Lakers. Minnewaska junior ava Kollman was fourth with a 165 and ninth-grader Kya Nelson was fifth with a 165.

NLS junior Rylie Harrier shot a 159 to finish third. She shot a 76 in Round 2.

NLS eighth-grader Evangeline Dalton shot a 174 to finish seventh, earning a state individual berth. The top five golfers not on the top team also qualify for state.

The state Class AA tournament is June 10-11 at Ridges of Sand Creek in Jordan.

Willmar is tied for second after the first round of the Section 8AA tournament 1 at Headwaters Golf Club in Park Rapids.

The final round begins at 9 a.m. Thursday at Headwaters Golf Club.

Willmar and the St. Cloud Crush each shot 353. Alexandria is in first place with a 328.

Alexandria’s Ellie Stich is the first-round leader after carding a 76. Becker’s Layla Matthews is in second with a 77.

Willmar’s Kennedy Mara is in sixth place with an 82.

Alexandria has a five-stroke lead with a 290 after the first round of the Section 8AAA boys’ tournament at Greystone Golf Club in Sauk Centre.

Brainerd is in second with a 295 and Sartell is in third with a 296. Willmar finished seventh with a 319.

Alexandria’s Weston Nyberg and Brainerd’s Aydan Dobis tied for first place with rounds of 70. Willmar sophomore Aden Jacobson is tied for third place with a 71. Evan Michelson is in 32nd place with an 81 and Luke Larson is 42nd with an 83.

The final round takes place beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday at Greystone Golf Course.

WILLMAR — (3t) Jacobson … (32) Evan Michelson 81 … (42) Luke Larson 83 … Liam Ims 84 … Cooper Lownbury 85 … Anthony Cellini 85