GRAND FORKS — Following up the excitement of winning a state title is nearly impossible.
But while the Grand Forks Red River girls golf team was still basking in the glow of its
North Dakota Class A team state championship
, head coach Eric Sanders had some more thrilling news to deliver to his team.
He had accepted an invitation to the 2025 National High School Golf Invitational, hosted at the Pinehurst Resort and Country Club in North Carolina.
“The looks on their faces were like ‘No way’,” Sanders said. “(Near the end) of school, we did some fundraising things, and we had a lot of communication there. Every time we saw each other, it was like ‘How much fun is this going to be?’ Everyone’s faces just lighting up because to come here, and play these golf courses, and see the beauty of golf and all this other high-level competition as well. … They’re super excited.”
Sanders, the players and their families have already made their way to North Carolina, posted up in the Village of Pinehurst. The group includes the trio of seniors who graduated this year.
Pinehurst Resort is home to some of the most prestigious courses in the country. It has hosted several top-end golfing tournaments, most recently highlighted by the 2024 U.S. Open.
“They’ll be able to look back at this every time this group gets together,” Sanders said. “They’ll be like, ‘Yeah, we won that state championship, and then remember when we went to (Pinehurst)?’ It’s going to be one of those stories they can sit and tell all those memories about forever.”
The tournament will start on Monday and finish on Wednesday. It’s a 54-hole, stroke-play event that includes team and individual competition. The invite-only field is made up of golfers from across the country, welcoming those looking to earn points for their tour card and competitors simply there for the experience. The Red River boys golf team has made the trip to the tournament before.
The competition is stout. Last year’s winning team on the girls side in Frisco, Texas, was California (SMC). The group finished with a staggering 55-under-par 809 for its three-day team total.
The Roughriders clearly have talent, but from a competitive standpoint, Sanders hopes his players will focus on playing loose, soaking in the event and simply enjoying the opportunity to compete.
“As far as expectations of golf, I think the worst thing we can do is try to really grind,” Sanders said. “The biggest thing we have to do is appreciate how much fun this is, and how beautiful it is. Golf is a whole lot easier when you do that. If you’re playing your best, it’s because you’re having fun and not trying to play and do anything you can’t do.”
It’s not just the first time that the Red River girls have participated in the invitational; it’s the first time they’ve made a major offseason trek as a team.
“Most of the time, the offseason stuff, the girls do that thing on their own,” Sanders said. “They’re usually going to tournaments around the area and that kind of thing. It is definitely the first time we’ve done it, but as cool as it is, who knows, we’d love to make that a tradition.”
Beyond the experience itself, Sanders is excited to represent the state of North Dakota on a national stage.
“I think that’s one of the coolest things, is to be able to represent our community, our school, our state,” Sanders said. “When you walk around, they’re like, ‘Oh, you’re team North Dakota.’ When you know that you’re representing your state, it does mean something. I think it’s pretty cool to have that opportunity, and I know that these girls are here to make everybody proud.”
Alex Faber is a sports reporter for the Grand Forks Herald. A Michigan transplant, he graduated from Michigan State University in 2024 with a degree in journalism and minors in history and environmental studies.
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