Grand Forks Red River’s Kolby Koerner Wins Class A Golf State Championship
OXBOX, N.D. (KVRR) – Grand Forks Red River’s Kolby Koerner had one goal left to accomplish.
After helping the Roughriders capture a team state championship in 2024 and finishing as the individual state runner-up in 2025, Koerner entered this week’s North Dakota Class A Boys Golf State Tournament looking to complete the final chapter of his high school career.
Mission accomplished.
Koerner held off a late charge from Fargo Shanley’s Ryker Grinaker to win the individual state title Wednesday at Oxbow Country Club.
The Red River senior entered the final round with a three-stroke advantage, but Grinaker stayed within striking distance throughout the day. A birdie putt on No. 3 helped the Shanley standout apply pressure early as he attempted to erase the deficit.
Koerner answered immediately.
The Roughrider golfer drained a birdie of his own on No. 4, moving to 1-under for the tournament and maintaining control of the leaderboard.
For much of the round, Koerner kept a comfortable cushion. Another birdie on No. 11 helped preserve his lead, but the tournament tightened dramatically down the stretch. Consecutive bogeys on holes 15, 16 and 17 trimmed his advantage to just two strokes heading to the 18th tee.
Grinaker made par on the final hole, leaving Koerner needing a routine two-putt to secure the championship.
He delivered.
With the final putt safely in the cup, Koerner completed the journey from team champion to individual runner-up to individual state champion.
“I really thought the only thing I had left was to win state,” Koerner said. “It’s such a full-circle moment.
Red River finished the tournament in a tie for the team championship, something that kept Koerner from fully celebrating.
“At the same time, it’s disappointing because I love those guys so much, and I feel like I kind of let them down. But we all could have done something a little better during this time. Next year, if anything, it’ll just be more motivation for them to go and get it.”
While Red River fell short of a team championship, Koerner leaves behind one of the most accomplished careers in program history — capped by the individual state title that had long eluded him.
TOP-20 INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD:
1. Kolby Koerner, Grand Forks Red River (SR) — 147 (+3)
2. Ryker Grinaker, Fargo Shanley (SO) — 148 (+4)
3. Tripp Toepfer, Minot (SO) — 151 (+7)
T-4. Stetsen Brown, Grand Forks Red River (JR) — 152 (+8)
T-4. Kyler Weishaar, Minot North (SR) — 152 (+8)
6. Carter Hushagen, Horace (JR) — 153 (+9)
7. Kane Shannon, Williston (SR) — 154 (+10)
8. Connor Peterson, Fargo Davies (JR) — 155 (+11)
T-9. Jaxon Bennett, Horace (FR) — 157 (+13)
T-9. Shea Tollefson, West Fargo Sheyenne (JR) — 157 (+13)
T-9. Ryan Zreik, Fargo Shanley (FR) — 157 (+13)
T-9. Parker Argent, Minot (SO) — 157 (+13)
T-13. Quinn Shillingstad, Bismarck St. Mary’s (SR) — 158 (+14)
T-13. Mason Bolstad, Williston (FR) — 158 (+14)
T-13. Henning Gibbs, Grand Forks Central (JR) — 158 (+14)
T-13. Carl DeBoer, Fargo North (JR) — 158 (+14)
17. Jacobi Sunram, West Fargo (SO) — 159 (+15)
T-18. Nathan Peterson, Minot (JR) — 160 (+16)
T-18. Evan Fisher, Williston (SR) — 160 (+16)
T-18. Trace Mattson, Horace (JR) — 160 (+16)
T-18. Teegan Dangel, Minot North (SO) — 160 (+16)
TOP-10 TEAM LEADERBOARD:
1. Minot — 625 (+49)*
2. Grand Forks Red River — 625 (+49)
3. Williston — 639 (+63)
4. Minot North — 641 (+65)
5. Fargo Shanley — 657 (+81)
6. West Fargo — 658 (+82)
7. Mandan — 658 (+82)
8. West Fargo Sheyenne — 659 (+83)
9. Fargo Davies — 660 (+84)
10. Bismarck Century — 664 (+88)
*Won team state championship on tiebreaker.
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CLASS B TOP-20 INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD:
Top 20 Individual Finishers — Class B
1. Myles Jorde, North Star (SR) — 132 (-12)
2. Carter Paulus, Oak Grove (JR) — 138 (-6)
T-3. Dylan Hedge, Bowman County (SR) — 141 (-3)
T-3. Kyle Campbell, Kindred (SR) — 141 (-3)
T-5. Jonathan Presteng, Grafton (SO) — 142 (-2)
T-5. Xavier Balkowitsch, Shiloh Christian (SR) — 142 (-2)
T-7. Lucas Wentz, Rugby (JR) — 143 (-1)
T-7. Ryder Moser, Langdon (SO) — 143 (-1)
T-7. Ian Westlind, North Star (SO) — 143 (-1)
T-7. Ryland Kietzer, Oak Grove (JR) — 143 (-1)
T-7. Colin Voightman, Central Cass (SR) — 143 (-1)
12. William Olson, Oak Grove (SR) — 144 (E)
13. Jackson Schumacher, New Rockford-Sheyenne (SR) — 145 (+1)
T-14. Cody Klindt, Tri-State FCTR (SR) — 147 (+3)
T-14. Connor Bernhoft, Park River (SO) — 147 (+3)
T-16. Tavin Knudson, North Star (FR) — 148 (+4)
T-16. Aidan Zuger, Oak Grove (SR) — 148 (+4)
T-16. Rider Schmidt, Nelson County (SR) — 148 (+4)
19. Tiger Lee, Westhope-Newburg (JR) — 149 (+5)
T-20. Carson Heilman, Harvey-Wells County (SR) — 150 (+6)
T-20. Garrett Heilman, Harvey-Wells County (JR) — 150 (+6)
T-20. Kade Johnson, Central Cass (FR) — 150 (+6)
T-20. Kash Lorenz, Central Cass (JR) — 150 (+6)
T-20. Reggie Rice, Grafton (SR) — 150 (+6)
CLASS B TOP-10 TEAM LEADERBOARD:
1. Oak Grove — 571 (-5) –THIRD CONSECUTIVE TEAM TITLE–
2. North Star — 577 (+1)
3. Shiloh Christian — 603 (+27)
4. Rugby — 605 (+29)
5. Harvey-Wells County — 608 (+32)
6. Kindred — 618 (+42)
7. Bowman County — 624 (+48)
8. May-Port-CG — 632 (+56)
9. Linton-HMB — 636 (+60)
10. Dickinson Trinity — 647 (+71)
