Crookston Pirate Girls Golfer Ava Martin shot a pair of 91s at the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Girls Golf tournament at the Ridges at Sand Creek Golf Course near Jordan. On Tuesday she shot a 91 and on Tuesday she struggled a bit on the front nine before recording five straight pars on the back nine and finished with another 91. Martin finished tied for 52nd place out of 88 golfers. Medalist was Pequot Lakes’ Genevieve Birkeland with a 148 (4 over par). Detroit Lakes won the State Championship with a 646, nine strokes better than Minnewaska Area.
Wednesday – Second round
Ava started on the 10th hole at 7:37 a.m. and started with a double bogey before recording a par. She followed with a double bogey and triple bogey before getting a big birdie with a three on the par four 260-yard 14th hole. Ava followed with a bogey, double bogey, and two more bogies for a 47 (11 over par) on her first nine.
On the final nine, Ava started with a triple bogey before she played five holes of outstanding golf. She recorded five straight pars and had excellent drives, great chips, and was able to finish off each hole with some nice putting. On the seventh hole (16th overall) she hit out of bounds and had a triple bogey before she finished with two more bogies to finish the back nine with a 44 (8 over par) to finish the round with a 91.
Tuesday – First Round
Ava shot a first round 91. The course plays as a Par 72 that is 5,136 yards.
Ava started her round on the first hole and had a bumpy start, which is expected with the nerves of teeing off in front of a bunch of people and playing in your first state golf tournament. The junior started with a bogey and triple bogey. She followed with three more bogies before recording her first part on the par-four sixth hole. After a bogey on the seventh hole she recorded a par and ended the front nine on a double bogey for a 46 through nine holes.
Ava kept battling on the back nine where it is a little more scenic and the elevation change makes it a challenge. She parred the 10th hole before getting a double bogey, followed by a par. She double and triple bogied the next two holes before turning in a birdie on the 75-yard par 3 15th hole. She parred the 16th before she ended the round with a bogey and a double bogey for a 91.
