Cooper wins medalist with 73 at Century Invite

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BISMARCK — The Dickinson High girls golf team has a special 1-2 punch with juniors Riana Cooper and Rachel Jahner.

Cooper shot a 73 to win medalist and help lead the Midgets to a team third place finish at the Bismarck Century Invitational at Tom O’Leary Golf Course.

“She played fantastic,” Dickinson first-year girls head coach Sara Berglund said. “She was hitting the ball really well. Her short game was really on and her putting was great.”

Jahner followed up in fourth place with a 77, while Williston’s Kayla Barke (76) and Century’s Alex Leidholm (76) came in runner-up and third, respectively.

“They (Cooper and Jahner) are playing really well right now,” Berglund said. “They’ve been practicing and playing a lot. To start the season with that confidence has really helped us big time.”

The Patriots won the event with a team score of 318 and Bismarck High came in runner-up with a 348.

Dickinson also had Rachel Lantz (103), Kelsey Yon (109), Jill Mueller (109) and Katherine Kessel (116) at the event. Berglund said she hopes the play of Cooper and Jahner filter down to the No. 3, 4, 5 and 6 golfers.

“They’re (Cooper and Jahner) both great leaders and they’ll help out tremendously in practice,” Berglund said. “That will definitely help the other golfers on the team. We really want to find two other scores to score really well for us.”

The Midgets have an extended break before hitting the links again. Dickinson’s next tournament is on Aug. 30 at the Minot Invitational.

“The more experience and the more they play, the more strokes we’ll be cutting off toward the end of the year,” Berglund said. “I’m really happy with how we are playing right now and I’m hoping that we continue to improve in every tournament and every day in practice.”

Bismarck Century Invitational

At Tom O’Leary Golf Course

Team scores: Bismarck Century 318, Bismarck High 348, Dickinson 362, Minot 365, Mandan 379, Jamestown 397, Williston 438, Turtle Mountain NS.

Individual top 10: 1, Riana Cooper, Dickinson, 73; 2, Kayla Barke, Williston, 76; 3, Alex Leidholm, Century, 76; 4, Rachel Jahner, Dickinson, 77; 5, Sierra Deringer, Bismarck, 77; 6, Sierra Bennion, Jamestown, 78; 7, Annie Nelson, Century, 78; 8, Alex Hopkins, Century, 80; 9, Haili Duscherer, Minot, 81; 10, Bri Flynn, Century, 84.

Other Dickinson finishers: Rachel Lantz 103, Kelsey Yon 109, Jill Mueller 109, Katherine Kessel 116.

Tags: high school golf, dickinson midgets, sports