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BRAINERD — Ryan Kennedy’s first birdie of the season got here at a very essential time.
The Brainerd Warriors senior was struggling in powerful, windy circumstances Thursday, April 25, at Little Crow Nation Membership in Spicer throughout Day One of many Cardinal/Wildcat Invite.
Kennedy was 6 over by way of his first six holes.
Then got here the 347-yard par 4 seventh gap.
“I obtained off to a tricky begin with some unlucky bounces after which that birdie was truly my first birdie of the 12 months so it felt good,” Kennedy mentioned. “I knew I had the scoreable a part of the course arising so I simply put my head down and went to work on these holes.”
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Earlier than the seventh, Kennedy had gone bogey, bogey, par, double, bogey, bogey. First-year head coach Tim Johnson watched Kennedy’s bogey on the par 3 sixth gap, however then noticed the right drive on seven.
“I noticed him proper after that par 3 and watched him hit an superior drive on seven into the wind,” Johnson mentioned. “It says 347, however it was taking part in longer. You’ve gotten water on the left-hand aspect and he likes to attract the ball. The wind was howling into your face and he piped it. He mentioned he hit it shut and made an excellent putt to sort of get him going. It’s good to see that bounce again and the power to verify it doesn’t go south. He has that maturity. He is aware of his personal sport. He can get out of that funk and climate the storm. He didn’t have any large numbers after that.”
Johnson let Kennedy do his factor the remainder of the spherical and Kennedy produced as he completed with a 9-over 81 to seek out himself in second place individually. Extra importantly, Brainerd was within the workforce lead by two strokes over co-host New London-Spicer.
Kennedy was two photographs off the lead held by Moorhead’s Hayden Reierson.
“The important thing to the primary spherical was simply staying actually affected person,” Kennedy mentioned. “It was very windy and the greens have been actually quick. You simply needed to put it within the fairway and hold it beneath the outlet after which go from there.
“After I came upon the place I used to be after the spherical, I felt like I didn’t play that dangerous, however my rating wasn’t superb. To remain in that second spot, I had a pleasant bogey save on the final gap and I felt like I had plenty of confidence going into the second spherical.”
On Day Two Friday, April 26 at Eagle Creek Golf Membership, Kennedy again shot the second-best round , however the most effective spherical belonged to teammate Marty Timmons. The 2 secured the Warriors’ win by one stroke over Lakeville South.
On Friday, Kennedy opened with a birdie and was 1 underneath after 4 holes.
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“That’s one thing we’ve talked about the previous couple of meets, particularly with him and Marty,” Johnson mentioned. “We need to get these high few guys off to good begins. He talked about it earlier than the spherical within the van and as a frontrunner, he mentioned it out loud to everybody. He mentioned ‘Hey, let’s get off to an excellent begin right this moment. We’re within the lead, however let’s not lose it.’ He’s recognizing the place the place we’re at. He’s doing it with out me saying it. For him to do this and lead by instance it goes a great distance.”
Kennedy carded three birdies for his second-day 76 and two-day 157, which was one stroke higher than the sphere. Kennedy devoured the 2 front-nine par fives and birdied the 258-yard par 4 eleventh.
“The best a part of (Eagle Creek) is the primary few holes and it was even taking part in simpler with the downwind on the 2 par fives,” Kennedy mentioned. “To have wedges into each of these par fives, I knew I might take benefit and it was an amazing begin.”
Kennedy continued his hot hand Monday, April 29, as he helped the Warriors to a 14-stroke victory within the Central Lakes Convention meet at Territory Golf Membership. Kennedy tied for particular person medalist honors with teammates Alex Asche and Marty Timmons and Alexandria’s Deiken Carruthers.
He rectified one double bogey with three birdies in yet one more chilly and windy spherical.
Whereas Johnson likes to see Kennedy getting low scores, he’s appreciated his leadership much more.
“He’s doing plenty of the smaller issues, not on the golf course, however he’s doing it exterior of apply,” Johnson mentioned. “He’s speaking to the teammates and he’s absorbing a few of the stuff we speak about. I’m empowering these guys to take the lead as a result of when their teammates hear this stuff from the older guys it has extra weight to it than me saying it over and over.”
There’s mutual respect for the brand new head coach, too.
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“He has plenty of good concepts on the right track administration and I believe he desires us to work on the precise components of our sport,” Kennedy mentioned. “With taking part in plenty of golf, he is aware of what he’s doing. Within the second spherical, he knew that I used to be sort of going so he simply left me alone. He actually is aware of what he’s doing.”
Kennedy’s primary objectives this season are to advance to state both as a part of a section-winning workforce or individually. He mentioned to do this he’s centered on the method and dealing day-after-day to enhance his sport. His primary thought course of is to verify he’s peaking on the finish of the 12 months.
Incomes medalist honors early doesn’t appear to trouble him, although.
“I believe to win the two-day occasion provides me plenty of confidence,” Kennedy mentioned. “Clearly, the part event is 2 days. To know I can piece it collectively for 36 holes provides me plenty of confidence and I’m certain I’ll carry that going ahead.”
JEREMY MILLSOP could also be reached at 855-5856 or jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com. Observe on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jeremymillsop.
Sport: Boys’ golf
Yr: Senior
Age: 18
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Top: 6-foot-1
Profession spotlight: Successful final week’s Cardinal/Wildcat Invite
Different sports activities: Soccer and hockey
Grade-point common: 3.6
Favourite class: Math
Favourite meals: Pizza
Favourite film: “Star Wars”
Favourite TV present: “The Workplace”
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Favourite musician: Zac Brown Band
Favourite restaurant: Chipotle Mexican Grill
Future plans: Attend South Dakota State Univerity and examine engineering
Favourite athlete: Justin Jefferson
Mother and father: Bruce and Erin Kennedy
Gaje Germundson, boys’ lacrosse, scored 4 objectives towards Grand Rapids.
Braedon Manecke, boys’ lacrosse, scored three objectives towards Grand Rapids.
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Ruthie Owen, softball, completed 2-5 with a house run and 4 RBIs towards Alexandria.
Mya Tautges, softball, completed 4-5 with two triples, three RBIs and two runs towards Alexandria. She struck out 15 in a win towards Sartell.
Cora Clough, ladies’ observe and area, gained the 200-meter sprint and excessive soar within the Warrior Quad.
Natalie Smith, ladies’ observe and area, gained the 100- and 300-meter hurdles within the Warrior Quad.
Brandon Stark, boys’ observe and area, gained the 200- and 400-meter dashes within the Warrior Quad.
Dylan Gross, boys’ observe and area, gained the shot put and discus within the Warrior Quad.
Maddie Maurer, ladies’ lacrosse, scored three objectives towards Rocori.
Keaton Lingenfelter, baseball, went 3-3 with a double and two RBIs towards Willmar.
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