Justin Redding wins North Dakota Stroke Play title

June 15, 2020 | by Brayden Conover of AmateurGolf.com

Justin Redding (GrandForksHerald.com photo)

The Minot State women’s golf coach finally broke through and claimed one of North Dakota's major golf titles

Minot State women’s golf coach Justin Redding finally broke through in the North Dakota Golf Association state stroke play championship. Twice a winner of the NDGA match play championship, Redding came away with the state’s most prestigious golf championship over the weekend at Grand Forks Country Club. "Conditions were tough, but I kept it in play, and I stayed out of bunkers, which I thought was key for me," Redding told the Grand Forks Herald. "And, really, I didn't miss any putts I should make." Sitting atop the leaderboard following a first-round 71 and a second-round 73, Redding stepped up to the first tee on Sunday with a two-shot lead and winds gusting over 30 miles per hour. Cruising along, Redding was never under much pressure as those who were on his heels to begin the day began to falter in the winds of the high plains. It was not until the final nine holes when Redding began to make it interesting. "It was smooth running up until 12 or 13, then it was a bad iron shot and bogey," Redding said. "Then I butchered a Par 5 and made bogey. Then the next hole, butchered again, made bogey. So at that point, it was let's just grind something out and finish strong." Finish strong he did. Following the three straight bogeys on Hole Nos. 13, 14, and 15, Redding closed the championship out with three straight pars to seal the victory with a final round 74, clearing the field by four shots. Andrew Passanante and Chad Skarperud finished the tournament both finished with a 222 with Passanante taking the second-place purse.

Results: North Dakota Stroke Play

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Justin Redding	Minot, ND	200	71-73-74=218
T2	Andrew Passanante	Fargo, ND	100	77-71-74=222
T2	Chad Skarperud	Fargo, ND	100	73-73-76=222
T4	Mathew Halvorson	Grand Forks, ND	50	73-73-77=223
T4	Nickolaus Schaefer	Grand Forks, ND	50	76-70-77=223