Cooper wins medalist at Minot

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MINOT AIR FORCE BASE — If Riana Cooper’s game is on, the Dickinson girls golf team may just be a team to beat.

The sophomore shot a 4-over-par 75 to win medalist honors Monday at the Minot Invitational at the nine-hole Roughrider Golf Course located on the Minot Air Force Base. The tournament was held there because Minot’s other courses are still damaged from summer flooding.

Cooper’s performance and Rachel Jahner’s fourth-place 83 led the Midgets to a team score of 349, just two strokes behind Bismarck Century, who won the team portion of the tournament with a 347.

“I expected a lot out of Rachel and Riana,” Dickinson coach Olivia Wellenstein said. “Both of them are pretty consistent, and we’re hoping to get our third- and fourth-place (players) better.”

Kira Haag finished in a tie for 10th with a 90 and Rachel Lantz shot a 101 to round out Dickinson’s team scoring.

Cooper’s performance was the highlight of the day though.

“She couldn’t miss today,” Wellenstein said. “She was on, she hit lots of fairways, greens. Her putting was phenomenal.”

The Midgets host their only home tournament of the season at 9 a.m. Thursday at Heart River Golf Course.

Minot Invitational

At Minot Air Force Base Golf Course

Team scores: Bismarck Century 347, Dickinson 349, Minot High 368, Williston 379, Jamestown 385, Bismarck 404, Mandan 419.

Top 10 Individuals: 1, Riana Cooper, Dickinson, 75. 2, Danielle Foster, Minot, 80. 3, Sierra Binnion, Jamestown, 82. 4 (tie) Rachel Jahner, Dickinson, 83; Kayla Barke, Williston, 83. 6, Brianna Flynn, Century, 85. 8, Haili Duchscherer, Minot, 86; Alex Hopkins, Century, 86; Alex Leidholm, Century, 86. 10 (tie), Kayla Helbling, Mandan. 90; Lindsay Reede, Century, 90; Kira Haag, Dickinson, 90;

Other Dickinson finishers: 20 (tie), Rachel Lantz, Dickinson, 101. 22 (tie), Ashley Schara, Dickinson, 104. 36, Katherine Kessel, Dickinson, 122.

Tags: riana cooper, sports, midgets, golf, preps