COLD SPRING — Katie Foley and Izzy Olson took different paths to get to the same destination -- the Class 3A State Tournament.
The Brainerd Warriors duo advanced as individuals Wednesday, June 1, at Rich Springs Golf Course in the final round of the Section 8-3A Tournament.
Foley finished second individually with her two-day 158 as did the Warriors team. The senior opened her second round with a front-nine 40 thanks to five pars and four bogeys. She threw in a birdie 4 on the par 5 third hole to go with five bogeys on her second nine to score a matching 40.
Foley fired a 78 Tuesday.
“Her chipping was just phenomenal,” Warriors head coach Todd Person said. “She had multiple chip-ins (Tuesday) and up-and-downs today. Really, around the greens, just played lights out.”
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This will be Foley’s third state tournament appearance.
Olson needed a birdie three on her final hole, a 350-yard par 4, to work her way into a playoff for the fifth and final individual state spot. It was her second birdie of the round as the junior shot a second-day 84 for a two-day 165.
Olson’s playoff lasted five holes as she battled Detroit Lakes’ Laura Syltie.
“Once she got into the playoff really started to play her game,” Person said. “She was hitting greens and just striping the ball off the tee. She was hitting greens on all of those holes and leaving herself makeable birdie putts, which ended up being tap-in pars. Finally, on the fifth hole, she had another tap-in par and the other girl couldn’t get up and down from the side of the green so she won the playoff.”
It will be Olson's third trip to state as well.
Sophia Karsnia placed 11th with her two-day 169. Two strokes behind Madelyn Holmstrom finished 12th. Karsnia improved by one stroke to shoot an 84 Wednesday. The sophomore finished with five pars and 12 bogeys.
Holmstrom bettered her opening round score by three strokes to shoot an 84 and finished with a 171.
Brainerd senior Anna Angland also landed in the top 20 with a two-day 179. She fired rounds of 91-88.
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“It’s a lot of fun,” Person said. “The girls work hard. They’re a good group and it’s just too bad we’re in the same section as the No. 1 ranked team in the state in Alexandria. At one point, I’m not sure if it was the third or fourth hole, but Alexandria as a team was 2-under par.”
Alexandria shaved 27 strokes off their opening-round 338 to retain the Section 8-3A team title with a two-day 649. They’ll look to defend their state title from last season.
Alexandria junior Hannah Boraas shaved 10 strokes from her opening-round 83 to fire 156 and win the individual title by two strokes.