The first of the two local high school golf tournaments will take place today when the girls stage their 18th annual invitational this morning.
Twenty teams will contend for the title won last year by Moorhead.
Among them are the defending state Class A (Minnewaska) and Class AA (Detroit Lakes) champions.
Based on early meets this spring Minnewaska seems to be the team to beat with the Lakers and Grand Rapids as top challengers.
The meet has attracted three Twin Cities teams, Hill-Murray, Minnetonka and Park Center.
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Rounding out the field will be Moorhead, Wadena, Crookston, East Grand Forks, Fosston, Fergus Falls, Menahga, Monticello, Crosby-Ironton, Roseau, Staples-Motley and Warroad.
Moorhead' title last year was its first. Bemidji and Staples-Motley have dominated the meet with Bemidji winning five titles and the Cardinals seven.
Fosston, Little Falls, Crosby, Roseau and Elk River have all won once.
Bemidji finished second last year but will not come close to that finish this time around with five of last year's players gone.
Coach Jeff Nelson, who created the meet in 1989, hopes the home course advantage will lift his girls into the middle of the pack.
He has used this week's good weather to get in some practices and hold a qualifier for today's events.
Earning varsity starts are Katie Reise, Lisa Holtman, Kelsey Bretschneider, Lynn Arndt, Emily Froskaer and Caitlyn Gangelhoff. Only Arndt played in last year's tournament.
Playing with the JV unit will be Laura Stittsworth, Shelby Sauer, Katelyn Tingelstad, Michelle Frees, Maggie Manske and Stiina Stocker.
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In the early going, Bemidji has posted only seven of its 24 rounds under 100 with Reise's 88 at The Legacy to only one under 90.
At Monday's Chaska Invitational at Hazeltine, no one broke 102.
Tomorrow the girls head east to Sugarbrook to play the Grand Rapids Invitational. They won that meet last year with a 345, one stroke lower than they fired at home the day before.
BEMIDJI GIRLS INVITATIONAL
GOLF TOURNNAMENT
Past Champions
Year Champion, Score
1989 Bemidji, 405
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1990 Staples, 486
1991 Staples, 392
1992 Staples, 365
1993 Staples, 346
1994 Fosston, 345
1995 Bemidji, 340
1996 Bemidji, 331
1997 Little Falls, 348
1998 Staples, 336
1999 Staples, 340
2000 Staples, 332
2001 Crosby-Ironton, 343
2002 Roseau, 331
2003 Bemidji, 342
2004 Bemidji, 323
2005 Elk River, 330
2006 Moorhead, 337
