Betsy Kelly and Kyle Lewis knocked in their final putts of the 2006 high school golf season last Wednesday at the Class AA state tournament, and their overall scores placed them both in the top 20 of their respective championships.

Kelly opened on Tuesday, June 6, at Bunker Hills in Coon Rapids with a round of 83, which put the 8th grader in elite company after day one. She was lingering in the top 10, and her coach, Joel Hall, admired the way she handled herself throughout the competition.

ìShe doesnít lose her focus, and thatís really cool to watch. I think that sheíll be pleased (with her performance),î Hall said. A moment passed as Hall reconsidered Kellyís age and how this was her first trip to the state tournament.

ìShe should be pleased,î he added.

Kelly walked away from the last hole and seemed at ease with the entire situation.

ìI donít feel pressure because no one is expecting me to do big things,î she explained with a shrug. ìSo I just went out and played.î

On her second round, Kelly was just as steady as the first, and came in with an 85 for a two-day total of 168. Those numbers landed her in a tie for 12th in the girlís division.

ìThat was pretty impressive,î Hall said.

On the boyís side, Lewis had similar success, finishing with matching 76ís over the two days, for a grand total of 152. Those kinds of numbers matched his coachís description of the way Lewis carries himself.

ìHeís a real even-keeled kid,î John Buck said during the second round. ìWhen you watch him play you canít tell if heís three up or three down.î

When the tournament was over, Buck cited Lewisí season average of being 75 per round, so the strains of competing at state seemed to have little affect on him.

ìI thought he handled that really well. I was really proud of him,î he said.

Lewis and Kelly will return for another run next year on teams that are both young and talented.

Buck will have his entire roster back and expects them to be even more competitive in 2007.

ìWeíre looking forward to it,î he said.

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