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Two years after finishing runner-up at the state golf tournament West Branch finds itself back in state title contention.

West Branch shot an opening-round 321 at the Class 2A state tournament at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge on Thursday and is second after the first round of the 36-hole event.

Lake Mills had three players shot 79 or better on Thursday while carding a 319 and enters Friday leading a strong group of title contenders that includes West Branch and Grundy Center.

Will Bridges shot a 78 and Dylan Countryman a 79 to help West Branch open with a 321 which is one stroke better than Grundy Center.

Hudson is fourth with a 332 followed by Boyden-Hull with a 333.

Bridges is tied for seventh place after a six-over-par 78 in his opening round that included a 38 on the front nine.

The 2A individual runner-up as a freshman in 2019 Countryman is in a five-way tie for ninth place after opening with a 79.

Countryman shot a three-over-par 39 on the back nine.

Kaleb Sexton shot an 81, Brady Knoop an 83 and Logan Highly and 85 for the Bears on day one.

Regina sophomore Mikey Takacs is tied for 22^nd after one day after shooting an 83.

Class 2A State Golf Tournament

At Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge  

Team scores – 1. Lake Mills 319; 2. West Branch 321; 3. Grundy Center 322; 4. Hudson 332; 5. Boyden-Hull 333; 6. Carroll Kuemper 341; 7. Dyersville Beckman 342; 8. Emmetsburg 343; 8. Western Christian 343

Individual leaders – 1. Drew Van Roekel (Boyden-Hull) 36-37 – 73; 2. Axton Miller (OABCIG) 41-35 – 76; 2. Bob Ryan (Tipton) 38-38 – 76; 2. Bennett Berger (Lake Mills) 40-36 – 76; 5. Dexter Whitehill (Grundy Center) 37-40 – 77; 5. Jake Weissenburger (Des Moines Christian) 39-38 – 77; 7. Ashton Martens (Grundy Center) 38-40 – 78; 7. Will Bridges (West Branch) 38-40 – 78; 9. Dylan Countryman (West Branch) 40-39 – 79; 9. Grant Caltrider (West Central Valley) 37-42 – 79; 9. Garrett Ham (Lake Mills) 40-39 – 79; 9. Casey Hanson (Lake Mills) 40-39 – 79; 9. Nathan Offerman (Dyersville Beckman) 38-41 – 79

West Branch (321) – Will Bridges 38-40 – 78; Dylan Countryman 40-39 – 79; Kaleb Sexton 37-44 – 81; Brady Knoop 41-42 – 83; Logan Highly 44-41 – 85; Gage Gingerich 42-47 – 89

Regina – 22. Mikey Takacs 42-41 – 83

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