JAMESTOWN-Jake Preston's trip to the Jamestown Country Club didn't end well a few weeks ago.
The Hillsboro-Central Valley senior wanted to get a feel for the course ahead of Tuesday's Class B state meet, but he didn't exactly show up on an ideal day.
"It was 40 degrees, raining and blowing to beat heck," Preston said. "That was tough. I didn't shoot very well, but I had a little better feel for it this time."
It may not have been as cold, but there was still plenty of rain for Preston to overcome. Nonetheless, he fired an even-par 70 for a two-stroke lead after the first of the two-day state meet.
"I hit my tee shots pretty well," said Preston, whose team is in fourth place with a 334 after a runner-up finish last season. "I was setting myself up in good positions. I had some three-putts, but I'd say I was still putting well. I was doing everything pretty well. Nothing spectacular, but good enough."
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Northern Lights leads the team competition with a 325, seven strokes ahead of Heart River and Kindred, who are both tied for second. Dalton Poitra is Northern Lights' top scorer, carding a 76 to tie for fifth. Jalen Pfeifer is tied for ninth with an 80.
Catching Preston could be key for any contending team hoping to move up in today's final round. Matt Rueb of South Border and Brook Bergh of Sargent Central are both tied for second with 74s.
Preston, an all-state golfer as a junior, said he gave himself a chance on every hole. He was 2-under with birdies on Nos. 1 and 5, but bogeyed Nos. 8 and 9 to drawn even on the first nine.
He started his second nine off with a bang, eagling No. 10, but losing that advantage with a double bogey on No. 13. He bogeyed No. 14 as well, but came back with a birdie on No. 17 for even par.
"I didn't necessarily hit every fairway," Preston said, "but I was always in a spot where I had a shot at the green."
South Border leads B girls
Emily St. Aubin's 80 paved the way as South Border leads after day one at the Class B girls state golf meet Tuesday at CrossRoads Golf Club in Carrington.
Aubin's score has her tied for the individual lead with Hazen's Bethany Leier. Hankinson-Lidgerwood-Fairmount-Campbell-Tintah's Kaitlyn Hubrig is third with an 84, while Krystal Ratzloff (86) of Langdon and Napoleon-Gackle-Streeter's Kate Long (87) were fourth and fifth, respectively.
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As a team, South Border shot a 357, seven strokes in front of Fargo Oak Grove. Hazen (383), Heart River (387) and Langdon (388) round out the top five, respectively.
The meet concludes today.
