GFRR's Ella Speidel wins Class A girls golf medalist honors, Grand Forks Red River win team title

By Tom Mix
NDHSAA Media Specialist

MANDAN – It was a clean sweep for Grand Forks Red River on Tuesday, October 1 at the Class A Girls Golf State Tournament.

The Roughriders won the team state championship shooting a two-day team total of 648 – 14 strokes better than runner up West Fargo Sheyenne at Mandan’s Prairie West Golf Club. The team victory was Red River’s first of the 2024 fall season as West Fargo Sheyenne had swept the regular season and last week’s East Region Tournament entering state.

Red River was led by junior standout Ella Speidel, who shot a two-day 151 (7-over par) to win individual medalist honors by six strokes. Speidel opened Tuesday’s final round with a one-shot lead over West Fargo Sheyenne junior Payton Stocker. The pair needed playoff holes to settle medalist honors at last week’s East Region Tournament with Stocker winning that matchup.

On Tuesday, Speidel ensured playoff holes would not be needed on Tuesday in Mandan by pulling away with steady play. In Round 2, Speidel was even at the turn and ran into trouble with a bogey on Hole 11, double bogey on Hole 12 and another bogey on Hole 13. Needing a quick recovery, Speidel found it in the form of an eagle on Hole 14. Speidel scored a birdie on Hole 17 and would card a bogey on Hole 18 to finish the round with a 3-over 75.

Teammates joining Speidel as all-state finishers for the Roughriders were Sophie Brakke (tied for 7th), Alexis Fabian (tied for 9th) and Lauren Soholt (tied for 9th).

The team state championship is Red River’s first since 2017 and the program’s sixth state title overall (2024, 2017, 1997, 1990, 1988 and 1979).

INDIVIDUAL TOP-10 FINISHERS (ALL-STATE): 

1. Ella Speidel, Grand Forks Red River, 76-75–151
2. Payton Stocker, West Fargo Sheyenne, 77-80–157
3. Zoe Keene, West Fargo Sheyenne, 80-77–157
4. Rose Solberg, Fargo Davies, 82-76–158
5. Lauren Graveline, Fargo Shanley, 83-78–161
6. Kate McComb, Fargo North, 88-74–162
7 (tie). Sophie Brakke, Grand Forks Red River, 83-82–165
7 (tie). Abigail Schneider, Bismarck St. Mary’s, 83-82–165
9 (tie). Alexis Fabian, Grand Forks Red River, 86-80–166
9 (tie). Lauren Soholt, Grand Forks Red River, 83-83–166

TEAM SCORES (TOP 3):

1. Grand Forks Red River, 328-320–648
2. West Fargo Sheyenne, 336-326–662
3. Bismarck St. Mary’s, 363-349–712

Full Results can be found by visiting https://www.iwanamaker.com/event/125748

* To access live scoring please create a free account on iWanamaker website. Link will be posted when it is made available.

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