Sam Paulak picked the right time to fire off a memorable round.
The Park Hill standout junior carded an even-par 72 on Monday, Oct. 5 at Adams Pointe Golf Course in Blue Springs, Mo. to take medalist honors in the Class 2 Sectional 4 tournament. She finished as runner-up last week in District 8 play to earn her third trip to sectionals.
Paulak now turns to her goal of winning a medal in the Missouri State Golf Championships in her second try. She finished in a tie for 18th last year, just one stroke away from the needed tie for 15th after shooting an 87 in the one-day, rain-shortened event.
Platte County freshman Jessalyn Shipp and Park Hill South junior Miranda Steczak will join Paulak on Monday, Oct. 12 and Tuesday, Oct. 13 for the two scheduled state rounds at Rivercut Golf Course in Springfield, Mo.
Steczak shot a 14-over 86 to tie for 11th and easily grab one of the 12 spots that didn’t go to automatic qualifying teams. Shipp came in with the next-to-last spot after carding a 19-over 91.
Playing her best golf of the season the past two weeks, Shipp recorded mostly pars and bogeys before adding a birdie late that helped seal her first trip to state in her first try. Steczak qualified in her second attempt after making the sectional cut as a junior.
Shipp becomes the first Platte County golfer to make the trip to state since Mikayla Tessmer in 2013. Park Hill, Platte County and Park Hill South qualified two individuals each for sectionals with three golfers missing the state cut. Park Hill’s Lexi Grego shot a 94 and missed out on a spot by one stroke, while Park Hill South’s Grace Dunker carded a 96.
Platte County freshman Kasydie Shipp ended up with a 101, which included three tough holes that kept her from shooting a lower score.