Class AAA Girls -- Neisen, Kuenster Are 1-2

COON RAPIDS -- Bunker Hills, at 5,809 yards, is the longest course any of the girls in the Class AAA portion of the state tournament has played in a high school tournament all spring (some of the best high school girls play practice rounds on their home courses from the back tees). So it makes sense that the two of the longest hitters are at the top of the iindividual standings after the first day. 

McKenzie Neisen of New Prague was under par on both nines Tuesday, posting a 1-under 35 on the front (East) side and a 3-under 34 on the back (West). The resulting 69 has her three strokes clear of the field going into Wednesday's final round. 

The highlight of Neisen's round was an eagle at the 430-yard, par-5 14th hole (No. 5 West), where she hit a 5-iron second shot to 10 feet and converted the putt.

In second place with a 1-under 72 is Cretin-Derham Hall's Celia Kuenster, who like Neisen, is a member of the prodigiously talented Class of 2014. Based on what they've already done, and on what they're expected to do, this year's Minnesota sophomore class promises to be by far the best group of femaie golfers the state has ever produced. 

Another three strokes behind is Stillwater senior Cassie Deeg, who tied Kuenster for medalist honors at last year's state tournament. (Neisen finished two strokes behind, alone in fourth place, last year.) 

Biranna Cullimore, a junior from Wayzata, and yet another sophomore, Lexi Bollant of Buffalo, are tied for fourth place after opening with 77's. 

Only two other girls are within 10 shots of the lead, and they are Red Wing senior Marisa Toivonen, at 78, and Andover sophomore Sierra Langlie at 79. 

Toivonen set a state record this spring for lowest score on a course with a par of 70 or more when she lit up Mississippi National to the tune of 5-under-par 66. A week later, Bollant shot a 5-under 67 at Fox Hollow, which is a record for a course with a par of 72 (or more).

Two years ago, Neisen and her sister Steffi led New Prague to the Class AAA team championship. Steffi then went off to Nebraska (she'll be a junior in the fall). Nevertheless, the Trojans are in position to possibly win another title. Their first-day tally of 333 has them in first place, four ahead of Red Wing, the No. 1 team in the final MGA rankings of the season.

Red Wing won the Class AA team championship last year, before being moved up to AAA this year. The defending AAA champ, Wayzata, is in third place with a 340. Stillwater, which spent some time ranked No. 1 in the state this spring, is fourth, but is only 11 behind New Prague and still has a chance to make a run at the large-school team crown. 

                                  Minnesota State High School Tournament

                                  Class AAA Girls

                                  At Bunker Hills GC

                                  Par 73

                                  Coon Rapids

                                  First-round results