Crookston High School graduated senior, Joslynn Leach played her final round of her Pirate career and shot a first round 92 on Tuesday and finished with an 88 today for a two day total of 180 to finish in 31st place at the Minnesota State High School League Class AA State Girls Golf tournament at the Ridges at Sand Creek Golf Course near Jordan. There was a total of 87 golfers competing.
Leach wasn’t happy with her first round start on Tuesday, but she was happy with the way she finished. “My first round I started out with three sevens and a four so it bad,” said Leach. “I was able to turn it around and had three pars going into the last three holes in my front nine. I had a 92 and wasn’t too happy about that.”
In Wednesday’s second round, Joslynn had a four stroke improvement. Leach started on the 461-yard par 5 10th hole and had a solid bogey, which was a one stroke improvement from the first round and it seemed to be a sign of things to come the rest of the day. “That was a great start and Joslynn looked more comfortable today and her swing looked much better,” said Pirate Coach Jeff Perreault. “She got the nerves out yesterday and had a solid start with that bogey.”
Leach continued her solid play with a bogey on the second hole and a par on the third hole. Joslynn bogeyed the next two holes before recording a par on the sixth hole of the round. She bogeyed the next two holes and finished her front nine with a par on the 416-yard par five 18th hole to finish her first nine holes with a 42, six strokes better than her 48 on Tuesday. “That was a very good round,” said Coach Perreault. “She is playing very well right now.”
On the back nine (1st – 9th holes) Joslynn kept things going with a par on the 430-yard par five. She had a double bogey before recording another par. She had a stretch where the putter wasn’t able to dial in the short putts and had back-to-back double bogies. Joslynn bounced back with a bogey and another par on the 420-yard par five 16th hole (actually hole seven). Leach ended her high school career with a bogey and a double bogey to finish with an 88, which was four strokes better than her first round score. “I was a little disappointed today and I couldn’t make a three foot putt and every single three-foot putt I missed and that was getting a little stressful so I know I could have done much better if I could have made those, but overall I am really happy with how I did,” said Leach. “Everything was working really well today, except for my putting. I made few really long putts that I was proud of, but when it came to the stupid three-foot putts I couldn’t make them.”
Leach got emotional towards the end of the interview when she talked about ending her high school career at the state tournament. “It feels amazing. There is no other way I would want to end it,” said Leach. “I had so much fun, it was one of the best experiences of my life.”
SECTION 8AA GOLFERS –
Perham’s Mallory Belka won the Class AA Girls Championship with an outstanding 148 (four-over parr) in the two days. She won the individual title by nine strokes.
Anna Eckmann, of Park Rapids, finished fifth place with a 162.
Annika Jyrkas, of Fergus Falls, finished 12th with a 170.
Ellia Soydara, of Fergus Falls, finished 19th with a 174.
Josslyn Leach, of Crookston, finished 31st with a 180.
Madysen Maninga, of Park Rapids, finished 31st with a 180.
Ivy Tickel, of Hawley, finished 54th with a 192.
Lexi Metcalf, of Fergus Falls, finished 55th with a 194.
Thea Eklund, of Fergus Falls, finished 61st with a 197.
Ella Mayer, of Fergus Falls, finished 74th with a 206.
The Fergus Falls team finished third place. Lake City won the meet with a 673.
TO HEAR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH COACH PERREAULT CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE FOR JOSLYNN LEACH’S INTERVIEW
