MISSOULA- She’s back, and swinging the stick better than ever.
As late summer turned over into the early fall months, Montana AA High School competition kicked off with the first two golf tournaments of the season. And as Hellgate’s Anna Stensrud continued to make a name for herself after collecting All-State honors as a Junior last fall, she has yet again another team poised to make a run at AA Divisionals and State this year right behind her.
Stensrud’s two day score of 154 (80-74) matched with Landrie Anderson’s 186 (98-88), Kat Helmer’s 212 (104-108), and Freshman Presley Clark’s 229 (108-121) combined for a total of 781. Hellgate’s team score paced the runner up Helena High Bengals by 4 shots.
“Last year the girls ended Divisionals with the winning low score which was unexpected,” said Stensrud. “It’s a super fun dynamic to have all four girls playing to win as a team again.”
Day one of the Missoula Invite saw inclement weather roll into Larchmont Golf Course right as golfers teed off. Stensrud fought through rain and wind to mud-out a resilient 40-40-80 total. But as all golfers fought through the same inconvenience, the senior for Hellgate still carried a 4 shot lead heading into day two.
“The weather definitely tested both my physical and mental game,” added Stensrud. “I was frustrated with my round and had a few three-putts with no birdies. I was really happy to come back on day two, and shoot my personal best.”
Bright and early for day two at Canyon River in East Missoula, the final group for the leading girls got their concluding 18 holes underway. Stensrud started off slower, carding three bogeys in her first seven holes, but turned it around quickly going 2-under in her next three as she made the turn onto the final nine holes.
“When I took the turn, I knew I was 2-over (par), but I didn’t put any pressure on myself to shoot any better than I did on the front,” said Stensrud. “I worked to stay consistent with my pre-shot routine in an effort to hit fairways, greens, and hopefully sink a few putts.”
To add the finishing touches to her best ever highschool round to date- Stensrud added two more birdies in her final four holes to fire a final round 74 (+2).
Added Stensrud: “If I put pressure on myself or began to think what I could shoot, I would not have had the round that I did. Your mental game is so important.”
Hellgate will take a week off as High School kicks into full gear, and will return the following week (9/7-9/8) for the Helena Invitational before heading into the Flathead Valley for the final regular season tournament, as Divisionals and State will then wrap up the 2023 Fall campaign later in September.
