Abby Knutson is in position to win a state championship and her Hatton-Northwood Thunder team isn't far behind.
Knutson fired a round of 76 to take the first day lead at the North Dakota state Class B girls golf tournament at Jamestown's Hillscrest Golf Course on Tuesday. Knutson is three shots ahead of Central Cass' Kamie Roesler and seven shots ahead of a four-way tie for third place.
The senior from Hatton-Northwood birdied holes No. 5 and No. 18 to highlight her round. She had 10 pars and six bogeys.
Knutson fared well on the par 5s Tuesday, finishing 1-under par on the course's longest holes.
Her round has put Hatton-Northwood in contention for the team title. The Thunder finished with a total of 379 -- five shots back of tournament-leading Central Cass. Hazen and Linton are tied for second with 377.
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Knutson had some help from teammate Audrey Bilden, who sits in seventh place individually after her round of 86. Grafton's Ali Burns and Kinzie Molde and North Star's Melissa Langer are also in the top 10 after shooting rounds of 88.
The tournament finishes today in Jamestown.
Callahan 6th after Day 1
Grafton's Ryan Callahan is the top area contender after one day at the North Dakota state Class B golf tournament in Carrington.
Callahan fired a round of 75 to go into a two-way tie for sixth place individually. He is just two shots back of the leader, Waylan Stanley of Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood. There is a four-way tie for second.
Larimore's Daniel Landman was the only other area golfer to break 80. He shot a first-day total of 78. The tournament ends today in Carrington.
Griggs County Central's Nathan Hazard (80), Finley-Sharon-Hope-Page's Zack Parkman (81), Grafton's Jake Hanson (81) and Larimore's Carson Anderson (84) were the other top area finishers.
Hazen leads the team portion with 311 strokes, one shot ahead of Valley City. Grafton is in 10th with a total of 336. Larimore shot a 351 and Hatton-Northwood a 353.
