Shanley’s Jake Skarperud wins North Dakota’s Mr. Golf award

FARGO — New award, acquainted title. Fargo Shanley’s Jake Skarperud was named the inaugural winner of North Dakota’s Mr. Golf award on Saturday evening, one other honor in a protracted line of them throughout the household.

Skarperud was offered the trophy at a banquet for the Russ Newman Junior Invitational on the Fargo Nation Membership. Wahpeton’s Anaka Lysne was named the primary recipient of Ms. Golf with each awards being the brainchild of the Dakota Junior Golf Affiliation, which put collectively a voting committee of media, former PGA professionals and highschool coaches.

The award takes under consideration novice tournaments, the place final summer season Skarperud was the Bobcat North Dakota Open novice champion and the North Dakota Golf Affiliation Match Play winner. He was the 2020 North Dakota Class A particular person state champ and completed in a tie for fifth within the ‘22 tourney earlier this week.

Additionally nominated had been Cody Card of Fargo Oak Grove and Logan Schoepp of Bismarck Century.

Skarperud is already signed to play at North Dakota State this coming season.

“I’m getting any individual who is able to step into the lineup,” mentioned NDSU head coach Steve Kennedy. “He comes from a terrific household with a terrific {golfing} historical past. He is aware of the way to play the sport and he is aware of the way to win.”

Skarperud’s father, Chad Skarperud, is a former Pine to Palm champion. With Jake Skarperud, it was one other close-to-home recruiting victory for Kennedy, who final yr obtained Moorhead’s Ian Simonich, a 2021 Minnesota Mr. Golf finalist and the 2020 Pine to Palm champ, to play at NDSU.

It’s been a pattern since Kennedy obtained Andrew Israelson from Staples-Motley to remain within the space a number of years in the past.

“That’s one thing once I obtained this job, I wished to ensure we stored the actually good gamers right here,” Kennedy mentioned. “Fortunately we’ve been ready to try this the previous couple of years. It’s vital to me to try this.”

This spring’s Summit League champion Nate Deziel is from East Grand Forks, Minn.

“They see our program goes in the appropriate route,” Kennedy mentioned. “They will see that we now have a group that may win the convention yearly. And hopefully it stays that method and we hold the great gamers right here.”

Kennedy mentioned Skarperud, a hockey participant at Shanley, will profit from year-around coaching for golf.

“He does have the entire sport,” Kennedy mentioned. “I believe he’ll get longer as he goes by means of our energy and conditioning program and that can make him a greater participant. And so will taking part in with good gamers day-after-day. That’s one of many issues the gamers at all times inform me: taking part in and working towards with them makes them higher.”

Lysne was the Class A Senior Athlete of the 12 months and led the Japanese Dakota Convention in scoring common at 78.3 strokes per 18 holes. Grace Nantt from two-time Class B state champion Coronary heart River was additionally nominated.