Mallow top 10 after state day one

Detroit Lakes McKenna Mallow was a top 10 finisher after day one of the Minnesota State Junior Girls Championship in Eden Prairie Monday, June 29. Robert Williams / Tribune

By Robert Williams

June 30, 2020 at 10:46 AM

McKenna Mallow made a run at the lead late in the opening round of the Minnesota State Junior Girls Championship at Bent Creek Golf Club in Eden Prairie Monday, June 29.

Opening on the back nine, Mallow was at 1-under after back-to-back birdies on par 4’s, the 12th and 13th.

She bogeyed three of the five remaining holes to go out with a 38 (+2).

A birdie on the par-4, third hole in the middle of four straight pars put Mallow in a tie for the lead at +1 with golfers already in the clubhouse.

The final five holes proved difficult. Mallow bogeyed 5 on the fifth hole but responded with a par 4 on the sixth. Holes 7 and 8 ended in doubles with a bogey on the ninth for a 40.

Mallow’s score of 78 (+7) was still good for a top 10 mark and a finish well ahead of the cut of 83 heading into Tuesday’s final round.

Perham’s Mallory Belka was in the final group to make the cut of 28 championship flight golfers as the remaining field of 56 golfers were split into two flights.

Minnesota State Junior Girls' Championship

Bent Creek Golf Club, Eden Prairie, Monday, June 29.

First round

T1 McCauley, Isabella, Southview Country Club 72

T2 McCauley, Reese, Southview Country Club 72

T3 Sarkar, Aayushi, Medina Golf And Country Club 72

4 Boraas, Hannah, Alexandria Golf Club 75

T5 Hanneman , Ava, Minneapolis Golf Club 76

T5 Hicks, Madison, Chaska Town Course 76

T7 Abbott, Josalynn, Southview Country Club 77

T7 Kuznik, Camille, Pioneer Creek Golf Course 77

T9 Mallow, McKenna, Detroit Lakes 78