Better finish on Day 1 of girls' state golf for New Prague's Ledwein

New Prague junior Taylor Ledwein was relieved to walk away with par on the 18th hole, placing her in second placeamong individuals with a 73 in the Class 3A girls' state golf tournament Tuesday.

She finished that same hole at Bunker Hills Golf Course in Coon Rapids in last year's state tournament with a double bogey on Day 2, dropping her into a tie for sixth place.

"That last putt I was just thinking, 'Just make this, we don't need to do last year again,' " Ledwein said. "Coming into [Wednesday] knowing that I hit par on 18, it's definitely what I'll be thinking about. Not last year that's for sure."

Ledwein is a shot behind Edina junior Hannah Hankinson heading into the final day.

Ledwein got off to a slow start on the first two holes shooting 2-over, but she finished 3-under on her last 16 holes. She said she was nervous at the start of the tournament but settled in after a pep talk from her coach and shot a 35 on the back nine.

The Edina boys' golf team was disappointed by its score after the first day.

Although the defending champions didn't perform as well as they wanted, Edina was still in a three-way tie for first place.

"I had to remind them that we're tied with two good teams, but we're tied," Edina coach Phil Ebner said. "They didn't throw away the tournament. We come out tomorrow and play really well, we win."

Seniors Kobi Boe and Sam Foust each shot 75.

"I just didn't really hit the ball well off the tee or into the green," Foust said. "I didn't really have any good birdie chances and wasn't putting well either."

• Owatonna senior Peters Jones, Eden Prairie senior Jack Koehler and White Bear Lake junior Masson Fiddle are in a three-way tie for first place

• The Edina girls' team took a commanding 12-shot lead heading into the final day. Hankinson shot a 72, finishing the back nine with a 32, while sophomore Grace Kellar finished with a 77.

Smith recorded a 6-under 30 on the front nine, but came back to field a bit with a 2-over 38 on the back side. Detroit Lakes leads the team race by seven strokes over Red Wing.

On the boys' side, Blake sophomore Reece Sanders fired a 5-under 67 to take a one-shot lead into the final round. Just like Smith, he tore up the front nine with a 5-under 31.

Keagan Kochie of Kasson-Mantorville and David Schneider of Albany are both one stroke back after 68s.

Blake leads Mankato East by one stroke in the team standings.

Freshman Brock Bliese of Mounds Park Academy leads the boys' field with a 2-under 70. He is the defending state champion. Mounds Park Academy tops the team standings by two strokes over Mahnomen/Waubun.