Stendahl and McCauley Named Mr. and Ms. Minnesota Golf

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  INDEPENDENCE, Minn. – Since the Mr. and Ms. Minnesota Golf award began in 2016, three recipients have gone on to play collegiate golf at the University of Minnesota.

The list nearly doubled Sunday when Maple Grove High School’s Ryan Stendahl and Simley High School’s Reese McCauley, the state’s top-ranked golfers and Gopher commits, earned award honors in a ceremony at Windsong Farm.

“My heart was bumping through my chest. Obviously, had a good year, but you never know until they say your name,” Stendahl said after winning the award Sunday. “To be in this class with this many good players—there were a bunch of players who were left off, that easily could’ve been here. It always pushed me to be the best I could be. I’m so thankful and very excited.”

“I’m honored to win this award. It had to be close because there are so many good players here,” McCauley said Sunday. “My senior year has been good—a lot of ups and downs early on, but towards the end of the season, things started to come together.”

Stendahl finished his senior campaign with a flurry of six consecutive rounds below par to help him earn medalist honors in four consecutive events, including his second straight MSHSL Boys’ 5AAA Section championship.

He will make his fourth consecutive Class AAA appearance Tuesday, notching back-to-back fifth-place finishes in 2022 and 2023, while helping the Crimson to a team title in 2021.

Stendahl posted a 71.8 scoring average across 18 rounds this season, claiming nine top-5 finishes to lead Maple Grove to the season finale at Bunker Hills for the third time in four seasons.

“This team has been a little different from years past with new guys, but this season was great,” Stendahl said. “To play as well as we did, I couldn’t be prouder of the team. State is the best two days of the season, so I’m excited for that.”

Widely considered the favorite at the Class AAA championship beginning Tuesday, McCauley heads into the final 36 holes of her high school career with a chance to claim her third individual title.

In seven rounds this season, McCauley recorded four wins and a scoring average of 73.0, including a season-low 68 at the Metro East Conference Championship.

Back-to-back rounds of 68 led McCauley to her second Class AAA championship at Bunker Hills last June, becoming the 20th player in state history to win multiple individual titles.

McCauley and older sister Isabella, Ms. Minnesota Golf winner in 2022, become the second sister tandem to win the award following Red Wing’s Stephanie (2017) and Leah Herzog (2019).

“I’m really looking forward to being on the team with her,” said the younger McCauley, who will join her sister at Minnesota this fall. “It’s close to home, too. I’m excited to play for Matt [Higgins], to travel with the team and play in college events.”

The annual award was created in 2016 to recognize the outstanding male and female high school senior golfer based on their performance on the golf course, academic achievement and strength of character. Finalists are chosen by a committee of high school coaches and amateur golf representatives.



THE 2024 MR. AND MS. MINNESOTA GOLF AWARD
WINDSONG FARM GOLF CLUB
INDEPENDENCE, MINN.


FINALISTS (BOYS)
Jimmy Abdo (Edina)
Jake Birdwell (Spring Lake Park)
Jack Holtz (Alexandria)
Peyton Savageau (Totino-Grace)
Hunter Schmidt (Martin County West)
Ryan Stendahl (Maple Grove)
Tully Super (Holy Family)
Evan Villagomez (Heritage Christian Academy)


FINALISTS (GIRLS)
Saachi Deshmukh (Wayzata)
Anna Eckman (Park Rapids)
McKenna Hogan (Maple Grove)
Reese McCauley (Simley)
Amelia Morton (Maple Grove)
Jovie Ordal (Lakeville South)
Lily Vincelli (Cretin-Derham Hall)
Jordana Windhorst-Knudsen (Lake City)