Nagel steals the thunder at WDA

The duel between Chivas Beaudoin and Laura Kraft on the back nine was an epic, attention-drawing battle to the finish.

Maybe that's why Mickayla Nagel came out on top.

"I was just having fun," Nagel said. "I wasn't even hitting that great. It was kind of ridiculous."

Nagel, a Minot High sophomore, played with little fanfare two holes behind the lead group and finished one stroke ahead of both of the West Region's leading girls golfers Friday at Heart River Golf Course.

Nagel's 81 secured her first career victory at the Western Dakota Association tournament.

Nagel's win ended a chance for a playoff between Beaudoin and Kraft, who each shot an 82 out of the lead group.

"That's great for her if she can come in and shoot an 81 today," said Beaudoin, a Dickinson senior. "It was tough."

While the sun shined bright, a southerly wind whipped cold and hampered scores. The weather even hindered putting abilities.

"I definitely struggled," Beaudoin said. "I missed a couple short ones, which is unacceptable."

While their leader struggled, the Midgets still walked away with a team win at 341 points in a tournament designed as a warm-up for today's West Region meet, which begins at 9 a.m. at Heart River. Minot was second at 352.

"Tomorrow is the big one," Beaudoin said.

Kraft set up what was viewed as the showdown for first after troubling finishes on several greens on the back nine.

The Jamestown freshman took an eight on the par-4 10th hole, to cut her lead to one stroke and set up her dual with Beaudoin.

"It was interesting, unlucky really," Kraft said of her finish on the 10th hole.

Kraft dropped a stroke with a bogey on the 15th hole, but climbed back into the lead with a birdie on the 16th.

Kraft, who had trouble with putts rimming off the hole, was saved on the par-5 No. 16, when her birdie shot hung on the lip of the cup before eventually falling in.

However, she fell right back in her rut on the par-3 17th hole with a double bogey. Beaudoin bogeyed to pull even.

Kraft had a two-foot putt for birdie on the 18th, but watched as it also rimmed off the cup. Beaudoin pared the hole to once again pull even.

"I know I'm going to do better tomorrow," Kraft said. "It's not going to intimidate me."

While the Dickinson and Jamestown stars were ducking it out two holes ahead of her, Nagel silently increased her lead with birdies on the 15th and 16th holes. She ended with a lucky bogey on 17th.

Nagel's tee shot fell short on 17, but she redeemed herself and walked away with a bogey with a strong chip shot.

"I had to chop at the ball," Nagel said. "I could have whiffed it easily."

Nagel, who was listed as the Majettes' No. 2 golfer, said she had not even given a thought about winning the tournament.

"I just thought it was going to be a regular tournament," she said. "It hasn't really registered yet."