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Grand Forks' Carson Skarperud edges Fargo's Josh Persons to earn qualifier to US Amateur

Skarperud hit birdies on 17 and 18 to win state stroke play in Bismarck

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Grand Forks' Carson Skarperud poses with the trophy after winning the North Dakota State Stroke Play Championship in Bismarck on Sunday, June 29, 2025.
Tim Doppler / NDGA

BISMARCK — Grand Forks golfer Carson Skarperud wasn't on a hot streak coming into the weekend.

He missed the cut at last weekend's Red River Amateur in Moorhead and ended his University of North Dakota season on a sour note at the Summit League Championships.

Momentum meant nothing this weekend in Bismarck, however, at the North Dakota State Stroke Play Championships.

Skarperud fired a 54-hole total of 212 to win the event by one shot over Fargo's Josh Persons to earn an invitation to the 2025 USGA Amateur Championship.

The U.S. Amateur will be played Aug. 11-17 in San Francisco.

Skarperud fired rounds of 70, 72 and 70 to win at Riverwood Golf Course.

Skarperud trailed by one shot entering the final round. With Persons finishing at 213, Jesse Horner, former Grand Forks Central standout Cole Hanson and Thomas Welk all tied for third at 215.

Although it has been rare for a Grand Forks golfer to earn an opportunity at the U.S. Amateur, East Grand Forks native Nate Deziel, who competed collegiately at North Dakota State, won the Minnesota Golf Association Amateur Championship to earn a spot in the U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine National Golf Club.

This year's U.S. Amateur will be held at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.

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Miller has covered sports at the Grand Forks Herald since 2004 and was the state sportswriter of the year in 2019 (NSMA, NDAPSSA), 2022 (NSMA, NDAPSSA) and 2024 (NDAPSSA).

His primary beat is UND football but also reports on a variety of UND sports and local preps.

He can be reached at (701) 780-1121, tmiller@gfherald.com or on Twitter at @tommillergf.
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