SIOUX FALLS – Claire Crawford’s day finished much better than it started on Tuesday.

The Aberdeen Roncalli eighth-grader overcame a rough first hole, made up ground late and finished in a tie for sixth place earning all-tournament honors during the State A Girls’ Golf Tournament at Bakker Crossing.

Crawford shot an 82 after carding an 87 on Monday to finish with a two-day total of 169. She becomes Roncalli’s highest place winner in more than a decade.

Interestingly enough, Crawford had a tough opening hole to start the day.

“I’m watching golf genius. I see the first hole and I see that it’s a snowman. It’s an 8,” said Roncalli coach Kerry Brandenburger. “You do the dreaded, ‘Oh no,’ and then to see she comes back.”

Crawford recovered from that hole, kept her steady resolve the rest of the way and improved as the day went on.

“She just doesn’t waver. She’s so calm,” Brandenburger said. “She really let’s the club do the work for her. She knows which club to push. She’s confident in that choice.”

Crawford was in a battle to climb into the top six positions and reached that level by making up four strokes over the final three holes as she was able to stay away from trouble while another foe struggled at the finish.

“She’s never really, really nervous; she’s never really, really excited; but she’s never really, really down,” Brandenburger said of Crawford. “She has that mentally, of ‘Oh well, if I have a bad hole I pick myself up and move to the next one.’ She’s just really good at that and I’m very proud of her.”

Margaret Anderson and Grace Seyer also lowered their scores from Monday’s opening round.

Anderson’s 96 on Tuesday was three strokes better than her opening round total.

“Margaret, for it being her first time there, to shoot under a hundred both days, that’s impressive,” Brandenburger said.

Seyer lowered her opening round score by nine strokes to shoot a 99. She rebounded after a rough opening nine to start the state tourney.

“She didn’t fold. I’m sure there were moments where she wanted to give up, but she didn’t. She came back,” Brandenburger said. “She made a great second nine-hole score (Monday), and she played great today.”

Marion Mischel of Mibank Area tied for ninth. Canton’s Olivia Sorlie won the state title by a single stroke. Sioux Falls Christian won the state team championship.

Roncalli’s three state tourney participants were two eighth-graders and a freshman. They showed that age was not an issue throughout the course of the season.

“That’s their strong point. They don’t let that stuff bother them,” Brandenburger said. “Their age is actually a benefit.”

To see complete meet results, click on the following link:

https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/8523573323496445506