Kolby Koerner: The Top Golfer in the EDC & A Skilled Photographer
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KVRR) – Kolby Koerner is more than just a top-notch golfer in North Dakota.
“I started golf really when I was like three years old,” said Koerner. “It really just started down in my basement. We had a net in my basement and then once once I got a little bit older, four or five years old, I got to get outside. It was kind of an interesting way to start, but I started with those like U.S. junior clubs and then I ended up actually going into something a little bit better.”
Koerner is one of the best high school golfers in the state of North Dakota. Through the first five Eastern Dakota Conference meets of the year, Koerner leads the pack with an average score of 71.8. That includes three tournament wins and a top five finish in each one. In addition to his individual success, Grand Forks Red River leads the conference as a team in the standings.
(All stats through May 5, 2025)
“I think it’s just about sticking to my game plan,” said Koerner. “I’m usually one of the first ones at practice and usually one of the last ones to leave. That’s basically what our team is built on. We’re all in. All our guys are committed to the same goal and hopefully hoisting that state championship here in June.”
While golf may have been Koerner’s first love, when he’s not dominating the links, he tosses aside his club and picks up his camera, taking on a different part in the sports world.
“I really picked up that camera in January 2024,” said Koerner. “I was just supposed to go and watch a rivalry homeschool basketball game, but I ended up helping my friend Hudson Murphy with the camera. And it ended up, you know, I got hooked from there. I started shooting multiple events a week, sometimes 16 games in three days. It’s just wonderful. I like to connect with the students, obviously, because I’m in high school too. So, I really think that’s something, you know, really neat about what I’m doing.”
What he’s doing is growing at a rapid pace. Just a year and a half after picking up that camera, Koerner has covered over 300 games. He posts his photos to his Instagram and has amassed over 5,000 followers.
“The numbers really don’t mean anything to me,” said Koerner. “I mean, I just think, you know, it’s nice to see the growth. It’s also about where you started. And I feel like I started with the very minimum. And when you see, like, the progress that you can make over time, it just shows that anybody can, if you just follow your dreams and work a little bit hard, you can do what I’m doing right now.”
One of the most fulfilling things about photography for Koerner is providing photos for his peers. Scouring his Instagram comments, you find thank you’s and compliments under just about every post.
“It makes me want to do it more,” said Koerner. “I wouldn’t do it if they didn’t like it. And I get to know all these athletic directors around the EDC conference, which really helps for getting into state tournaments when maybe my school doesn’t qualify.”
Between being a respected photographer in the area, and one of the best high school golfers, Koerner finds similarities in what he does to become the best version of himself.
“I definitely think finesse,” said Koerner. “You got to really be able to adjust your settings in the camera, just like adjusting your break when you are reading a put or adjusting your aim having to maneuver through the North Dakota winds. So, I mean, there are definitely some things that have helped.”
Just a junior at Grand Forks Red River this school year, Koerner still has the remainder of this spring and next spring in golf to go.
“It is important to stay one meet at a time because if you look towards the future you can get too far ahead of yourself and that that is just typically not very good,” said Koerner. “But I really think I have a very good chance of doing something special this year if I just stay focused, stay off of social media before the games, stay to myself and take my stroll on the golf course. I think the sky is the limit, but it’s just one meet at a time. The main goal is to hoist that state championship team trophy at the end of this season.”
That stroll comes out often on the course. As for that state title, it would be the second straight if the Rough Riders were able to accomplish that.
For photography, the goals are simple: continuing to capture moments in sports for his fellow high school athletes.
“Capturing moments that last a lifetime,” said Koerner. “That started once I got that first photograph from Brianna at the Class A golf meet two years ago. I felt like I could really cherish those memories. I kind of got my inspiration from that and some other things that I see. I feel like you cannot go back and replay a moment. That’s why you capture it to last a lifetime.”
And with that, As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words.
The Regional golf tournament for the EDC will be May 28 in Wahpeton.
The State Tournament is June 3 – 4 in Minot.
