2023 Golf Advance Release
Posted: Monday, June 12, 2023 - 7:55 PM
A dandy Class AAA duel could be in store this week when the Minnesota State High School League’s Golf Tournament begins two days of play on Tuesday, June 13 with the final round a day later. The Class A field will play at Pebble Creek in Becker while the Class AA event takes place at Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan. The Class AAA field will convene at Bunker Hills Golf Club in Coon Rapids.
Drama and intrigue is expected to unfold in the Class AAA field, especially with the foursome pairing of defending big-school champion Kathryn VanArragon of Blaine and Simley junior Reese McCauley. Both are Division I recruits. VanArragon is attempting to win her third individual championship. McCauley was the Class AAA state champion in 2021.
Their foursome is scheduled to tee off at 8:38 a.m. on the East Course at Bunker Hills. VanArragon has committed to play at the University of St. Thomas while McCauley gave a verbal commitment to play at the University of Minnesota.
VanArragon, who won her first individual crown as a seventh-grader in 2018, won this season’s Section 5 tournament by 15 strokes after firing a 10-under par 134 at the Links at Northfork. Bunker Hills is the home course for Blaine High School.
McCauley won the Section 3 medalist honors at Bunker Hills. In 2022, she finished third, four strokes behind VanArragon. Her older sister, Isabella, was runner-up to VanArragon, two strokes back. Isabella McCauley plays for the Gophers.
Kate Smith of Detroit Lakes is the state record holder with five individual championships.
In Class A, Legacy Christian Academy junior Emily Brandt returns to defend her state championship captured a year ago. Lake City junior Ella Matzke is the highest returning qualifier in the Class AA field. She was the runner-up to Perham’s Mallory Belka a year ago.
On the boys’ side, Cretin-Derham Hall sophomore Sam Udovich will attempt to win a second consecutive championship, but in a different classification. He was the Class AA champion in 2022 when he attended St. Croix Lutheran.
Maple Grove junior Ryan Stendahl is also a top Class AAA golfer to watch. He finished fifth a year ago and is the highest returning place winner from 2022.
