Posted: 8/14/02

Swanson places 17th at MN State Amateur

Branden Peterson
Sports Intern

One week after being named MN Junior Girls Player of the Year, Forest Lakeís Krista Swanson continued to show why sheís earned the honor at last weekís MGA Womenís State Amateur.

Matching her 17th place finish in the MN Womeís State Open in June, Swanson was reminded how fast low scores can swell. Swanson finished with a total of 238, good enough to tie for 17th place. Satisfied with the outcome, Swanson found herself in a much different position after the first day of competition.

Play began last Monday, August 5, and the Forest Lake senior-to-be fired a trim 73. The round was her lowest of the summer, helping her to take sole position of second place.

ìI was pretty nervous,î Swanson said about her surprising start of the tournament at North Oaks Golf Club in Shoreview. ìI think the pressure really got to me the second day.î

Playing in some of her toughest competition of the summer, Swanson hit a bump in the road after teeing off for the second tournament day of the State Amateur. It was a big bump, or maybe it was a big tree, or perhaps a big pond.

Nevertheless, nine holes into her second round, Swanson knew she wasnít in second place any longer. She squandered herself a 46 thanks to a small case of the shanks. A few larger than normal numbers caused her impressive start to quickly dissipate.

When things go bad, Swanson has one goal in mind: make par. On a mission to forget about her first nine holes of day two, she calmly went back to routine. After scoring 37, Swanson finished her second round with a total of 83. The round wasnít what Swanson had hoped, but she gingerly admitted it could have been worse.

Swansonís final round came with its bumps as well, scrapping together a 82. The venue was Swansonís first time playing at the State Amateur. She holds firm to the fact she had a goal to play with rounds in the 70ís everyday. With rounds 73, 83, and 82, she may not have completed the goal entirely, but she stills shrugs and looks at the positive side of her performance.

ìIím pretty happy with how I did. The course was tough with how fast the greens were, with the wind and the competition was I up against.î she said.

On Sunday, August 11, Swanson began a three-day PGA of America junior tournament at Chaska Town Course. As the worldís best golfers prepare for this weekís PGA Championship at Hazeltine National, Swanson competed against 20 girls from across the country.

And as if her busy tournament schedule couldnít be busy enough, Swanson will fly to Winnipeg on Saturday in preparation for the Minnesota/Manitoba Junior Cup Matches. Swanson will join five girls and eight boys on the Minnesota squad, and will compete on a three-day tournament versus some of Manitobaís best junior golfers.

Play will begin on Monday, with Swanson competing in two matches. A third round of match play will be played on Tuesday.

As summer grinds on, Swanson doesnít mind spending her days reading greens, and firing shots at them either. But she admits the high level of play she must maintain has taken its toll.

ìThree tournaments a week starts to get a little tough, but Iíll be able to keep it all together for a little bit longer.î Swanson said.

For a golfer who grew on the golf links of Castlewood, with a little time at Forest Hills, Canada golf should prove to be quite a treat. The tripís price tag encourages the journey even more: FREE.

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