Williston High's Miranda Zavalney flagged down her coach Dennis Healy to give him an update as he drove by on his golf cart.

Zavalney had put up a 40 on the back nine, she birdied the short par-5 tenth hole with an aggressive driver play.

Zavalney shot a career best 81, senior star Ashley Beardhad an improved round to secure her second-straight all-state honors, and the team improved 17 strokes on the second day of play in a 10th-place finish at Minot Country Club in the state class A girls golf tournament.

"I just took my time," Zavalney said. "Some of the holes, you have to have a pretty good slice, and I just hit it out to the left."

After finishing 12th at the WDA Regional Tournament, Zavalney tied for 13th at state. The Coyotes closed the gap from 24 strokes to 7 on ninth-place Bismarck High. Their two-day team total of 759 was 46 strokes better than their score at the East-West Classic at the same course during the early season.

"We were playing our best golf at the end of the year with the state pressure," Healy said. "The girls did a real nice job."

Beard shaved five shots off her first-day total and finished in a tie for fourth place. She shot a steady 38-38 76.

"I hit the ball a little better today," Beard said. "This was my last golf in high school, so I wanted to do well and have fun."

The back half of Williston's team also improved on the second day, with two golfers replacing Monday's career state highs with new ones. Kayla Barke shot a 104 (one better than her 105 from the day before) and Cari Zavalney improved from a 114 to a 110. Anna Peterson shot a 123.

Minot High School finished a perfect season with a 308 on the second day, winning the team title by 43 strokes over Fargo Shanley. Jamestown's Laura Kraft shot a 74 on the second day, adding to her one-under par 71 on the first day, to win the state individual medalist title.

There was a controversy over the award for outstanding senior. The 12 coaches present agreed to vote to split the award between Krista Weiszhaar from West Fargo, Minot's Shantel Montgomery and Beard. However, five ballots from coaches not at the tournament had been mailed in previously and pushed the award to Weiszhaar. Healy said the issue is under protest.

Class A state girls golf tournament

Tuesday’s scores

Out 544344354 In 543443535 Day Total

Ashley Beard 555444353 534453536 78 157

Miranda Zavalney 545545454 654344545 81 169

Kayla Barke 785465565 1044364778 104 209

Cari Zavalney 877657576 766663648 110 224

Anna Peterson 876677485 887(10)65948 123 245

Team final totals

Minot 633

Fargo Shanley 676

Grand Forks Red River 688

Dickinson 690

Cenutry 704

Jamestown 719

Fargo South 724

West Fargo 739

Bismarck 752

Williston 759

Grand Forks Central 809

Wahpeton 817