On a ‘good day for golf,’ Rugby’s Dulmage qualifies for state

Sue Sitter/PCT Rugby’s Ashlyn Dibble putts on Hole 5 at the Rugby Golf Course Aug. 31. Dibble’s score of 98 earned her third place in the Region 4 Individual Qualifier Tournament, behind teammate Libby Dulmage and Northern Lights’ Carmen Elick.
“Today was a good day for golf,” Rugby Panthers Coach Angie Zietz said after Rugby girls’ team member Libby Dulmage scored a state-qualifying 82 on Aug. 31 the Rugby Golf Course.
The Region 4 qualifier tourney in Rugby went on until mid-afternoon in bright sunshine, but Zietz and golfers there described temperatures as “only a little bit hot.”
Dulmage’s 10 over par score punched her ticket to state as the only individual representing Region 4 so far.
The Leeds High School senior had placed fifth at state in 2021, when she described her seven-over-par score of 79 as a “personal best.” Dulmage added at the time she felt glad to be on a team with Rugby instead of being “on a team of one” at Leeds.
Two Panthers golfers placed among the top five in the Rugby qualifying tournament. Sophomore Ashlyn Dibble placed third with a score of 98, while eighth grader Marly Santjer tied for fifth place with 105. Senior Reese LaRocque placed 19th with a score of 118. Freshman Mari Melgaard tied for 24 with 122. Eighth grader Tallie Dosch placed 31st with a score of 129.
Although team qualifiers are set for Sept. 16 in Garrison, Zietz said she was happy to have the Panthers finish in first place over the six teams participating in the tournament. Rugby totaled 403 points in the tournament.
Bottineau’s Stars squeaked by Velva’s Aggies for second place, scoring 449 to Velva’s 451. Northern Lights’ Cameron Elich came close to tying for first place with Dulmage. Her team came in fourth place, edging out Nedrose by one point, 458-459. The Dunseith Dragons rounded out the tournament with 541 total points.
Zietz said she was pleased in the way the Panthers’ season had gone so far.
“It’s been good, and today was a good day,” she said.