Northern Cass' Aidan Hall wins ND Class B boys golf title, Central Cass earns 1st team championship

WAHPETON — It was a good day to have Cass in your school name at the North Dakota Class B boys state golf tournament at Bois de Sioux Golf Course.

The Central Cass Squirrels won their first ever boys golf team championship in dominating fashion and Northern Cass’ Aidan Hall claimed the individual championship on the final hole of the day

Hall who entered the final hole tied with South Border's Zachary St. Aubin, took the win with a two-day score of 148. Bowman County's Karsen Kulseth eagled the No. 9 hole, the final hole of the tournament, to take second place with a 149, one shot ahead of Central Cass’ Cole Holzer and South Border's St. Aubin who tied for third. Holzer took third on a tiebreaker.

"I feel great. This is what I’ve been working really, really hard for ever since we could get out on courses and for years really," Hall said. "This is what I’ve been looking for."

The nerves brought on by the final hole were only intensified when a shot by St. Aubin went in the water, Hall said.

"Zach hit it in the water and that's when the nerves really started feeling high," he said. "I bladed it over the green after but luckily I made it up and down to secure the title."

Central Cass shot 623, 33 strokes ahead of Oak Grove and Bottineau, which tied for second at 656. Oak Grove was awarded the runner-up spot on a tie-breaker.

The state title is the first for Squirrels, who finished runner-up to Oak Grove in last week's region tournament. Central Cass coach Troy Roesler said that the second place finish lit a fire under the Squirrels heading into states.

"The kids worked hard and played very well," Roesler said. "We’re in a very tough region with Kindred and Oak Grove, two very good teams. They came out and played.

"I think the second didn't sit real well with them. We came back and had a nice weekend."

Central Cass entered the second day with a 12-stroke lead over Oak Grove, which prompted a reminder from the Squirrel's coach to not get defensive with the lead.

"We went out for breakfast and I told them I’ve seen more people lose championships playing not to lose," Roesler said. "I told them we wanted to win today and that it was 0-0 coming out. They did a nice job and it's all the kids. They played great."

The season marked the first time in several years that the Squirrels were without coach Mike Jacobson, who passed away in September 2022. Roesler said the Squirrels had a helping hand from Jacobson to win.

"They wanted to win it for him," he said.

Oak Grove coach Ross Uglem commended Central Cass on the win.

"Central Cass is such a phenomenal team," Ulgem said. "For them to win this tournament after losing Pastor Mike is just incredible and so awesome. What a way to finish that story."

While the Grovers had hoped to follow up their region title win with a state title, Ulgem said the future is bright for Oak Grove golf.

"With as young as we are, our story is not over," he said. "We have a lot of returning talent and this is the third year we’ve been in the top three with being champions in 2021 and runner-up last year.

"When I took this job I wanted it to be a program and that's what it's been. I have a lot of kids that are obsessed with golf."

The boys golf state title is another in a line of championship wins this year for Central Cass. Holzer has been a part of two with this and the Class B basketball championship.

"It's awesome to be a part of it," Holzer said of the school year. "We’ve had decent teams recently but we haven't had a lot of great teams. That's what we’ve put together this year in almost every sport. We’ve put together some great teams and had some great seasons."

Individual results - Top 201. Aidan Hall, Northern Cass, 71-77–148; 2. Krishna Kulseth, Bowman County, 73-76–149; 3. Cole Holzer, Central Cass, 78-72–150; Zachary St. Aubin, South Border, 71-79–150; 5. Max Palmer, Bottineau, 79-74–153; 6. Joseph Kamlich, Edgley-Kulm, 74-80–154; 7. Marcus Biffert, Central Cass, 80-75–155; 8. Colton Getzlaff, Bottineau, 77-79–156; 9. Jay Wanzek, Shiloh Christian, 78-78–156; 10. Carson Brown, North Border, 74-82–156; 11. Hunter Bindas, Kindred, 77-81-158; T12, Ian Oberlander, Central Cass, 81-79-159; T12. Champ Hettich, Beulah, 79-80-159; T14. Myles Jorde, North Star, 81-79-160; T14. Rider Schmidt, Lakota, 78-82-160; T16. Parker Hubrig, Hankinson-Lidgerwood, 79-82-161; T16. Devon Halverson, Central Cass, 78-83-161; 18. Logan Gross, Dickinson Trinity, 81-81-162; 19. Andrew Bilstad, Oak Grove, 81-82-163; T20. William Olson, Oak Grove, 80-84-164; T20. Xavier Balkowitch, 82-83-164

Team results 1.Central Cass 623; 2. Oak Grove 656; 3. Bottineau 656; 4. Shiloh Christian 670; 5. Kindred 671; 6. Dickinson Trinity 677; 7. Grafton 684; 8. North Border 709; 9. Beulah 715; 10. Lisbon 716; T11. Rugby 717; T11. Napoleon-GS 717; 13. Our Redeemer's 739; 14. Linton-HMB 742; 15. Des Lacs-Burlington 750; 16. Hatton-Northwood 755; 17. Stanley 764; 18. New Town 839