Jirele makes mark on state
Owatonna’s Carmen Jirele putts a ball on the third hole at Bunker Hills Golf Club during the MSHSL state tournament in Coon Rapids last week. Jirele qualified for the state tournament in just her first season as a member of the Huskies golf team.
Owatonna eighth-grader Carmen Jirele took 58th place at the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) state tournament last week at Bunker Hills Golf Club in Coon Rapids last week.
Jirele shot an 89 in her first round before finishing the second round with an 88 to finish the tournament with a total of 177 in a three-way tie for the position.
However, what is equally as impressive as Jirele’s finish at the state tournament was her path to qualify for the event.
“I started golfing regularly in 2018. This was my first year playing golf competitively and my first year playing golf as a school sport,” said Jirele in reflection of her season.
After becoming a varsity athlete in her first season as a member of the Huskies girls squad, Jirele quickly found herself breaking personal bests en route to a hot-shooting end of the season.
“I was very surprised I was in fourth place after the first day of sections and I knew I had a chance to make it to state. I played my best the second day of sections and ended up qualifying.”
An 89 on the first day of play at the Section 1AAA tournament at Cannon Golf Club in Cannon Falls earned Jirele her spot in fourth place before a second-round score of 86 catapulted the eighth-grader to the state tournament.
“I felt like my game improved over the season. Shooting my personal best the second day of sections, which led me to qualify for state, was my highlight of the season.”
According to Jirele, the next accomplishment she looks to achieve is breaking 80 whilst continuing to improve her game.
When it comes to Jirele’s game, the Huskies’ star said she feels that her driver, three-wood and hybrid are the best clubs in her bag.
However, it is not just the finishes or personal bests that keep Kirele coming back to the course.
Growing up in a family that loved the game influenced Jirele’s love for the sport as well as her love for competition and competing as a member of a team.
Huskies fans will have to wait until next golf season to watch Jirele compete in the Owatonna royal blue and silver, but in the meantime, Jirele said she plans on honing in her game even more over the summer in hopes of returning to the state tournament in 2023.