The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The top 10 finishers at the 2024 Class B Boys' Golf Tournament in Carrington, plus one tie for 10th, were, L-R: Max Palmer of Bottineau, medalist; Hunter Bindas, Kindred; Champ Hettich, Beulah; Reggie Rice, Grafton; Cody Fugleberg, May-Port-CG; Andrew Bilstad and Aiden Zuger, Oak Grove; Cade Fitterer, Dickinson Trinity; Jake Thompson, Central Cass; and William Olson, Oak Grove. Not pictured: Grant Cosley, North Border.
State champion Max Palmer of Bottineau (right) shakes hands with Oak Grove's William Olson upon the completion of his round Thursday, June 6. Also in this photo, Jake Thompson of Central Cass congratulates Cade Fitterer of Dickinson Trinity (arm visible on left side). Palmer became the second Braves' golfer in a four-year span to win the championship, with both victories coming at CrossRoads Golf Club.
HWC's Franklin Graumann prepares to putt on the 10th.
The elements were the X-factor when the best golfers and teams in Class B converged at CrossRoads Golf Club in Carrington for two days of abbreviated action Wednesday and Thursday, June 5-6.
A three-plus-inch downpour several hours before play was supposed to begin on Tuesday, June 4, postponed the entire first day of golf to Wednesday. The original plan was to play an 18-hole one day event that day, but flooding on the southern portion of the course shortened the round to just nine holes.
With holes one through six still unplayable Thursday, the second day was cut to 12 holes, for a two-day total of 21.
Bottineau's Max Palmer shot a one-over-par 35 on Wednesday, then battled gusty winds on Thursday to birdie his first two holes and shoot par on the next five. Even while bogeying three of the final five holes, Palmer held off runner-up finisher Hunter Bindas of Kindred and 2022 state champion Champ Hettich of Beulah by two shots.
Palmer shot even par at 86 (35-51) for the tournament, and Bindas carded an 88 (35-53), as did Hettich (34-54). His championship came three years after another Brave, Jaden McCloud, won 2021 medalist honors, coincidentally on the same course.
Rounding out the All-State finishers were Reggie Rice of Grafton, Cody Fugleberg of May-Port-CG and Andrew Bilstad of Oak Grove, all shooting 89, followed by Aidan Zuger of Oak Grove, Cade Fitterer of Dickinson Trinity, Grant Cosley of North Border, Jake Thompson of Central Cass and William Olson of Oak Grove, who shot 90.
With those three top-10 finishers, Oak Grove won the Class B championship with an 18-over-par score of 364 (142-222). It is the sixth championship for the Grovers in school history, following titles in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2021.
The top five team finishers were Central Cass (373), Kindred (378), Dickinson Trinity (380) and Harvey-Wells County (383).
In other individual honors, Palmer was named the Class B Senior Athlete of the Year following the tournament, and his coach, Nate Simpson, was honored as the Coach of the Year for the division.
Results from local golfers saw Jackson Schumacher of NR-S tie with six other golfers for 29th overall, shooting 39-57-96, and Grady Shipman of Carrington finished in a six-way tie for 101st place (41-64-105).
The big finish for the Hornets was led by sophomore Carson Heilman's 92 (36-56), good enough for 13th place. Other HWC shooters were Ryan McKinven (94, 21st place), Michael Felchle, Kayl Sieg and Franklin Graumann (all shooting 100, 63rd-tie), and Garrett Heilman (101, 74th).
