Park Hill senior Sam Paulak places third at Missouri Class 2 state golf meet

At some point during the Missouri Class 2 state golf tournament Tuesday, Park Hill senior Sam Paulak lost track of her score, along with her standing on the leaderboard.

It was by design, actually. As a method for improving her focus on the course, Paulak gave up the scoreboard watching. And so on Tuesday at Columbia Country Club, it wasn’t until she walked off the course that she received good news.

Paulak placed third at the Missouri Class 2 state meet Tuesday, following up her opening-round 75 with a final-round 76 in Columbia. The state-meet finish was the best of her career and the best among Kansas City area golfers.

Columbia Rock Bridge’s Julia Bower and Claire Solovic of Seckman in Imperial, Mo., were two shots better over the two-day tournament, and they shared medalist honors.

“I actually didn’t think I was doing that well, but then I find out I was third, so it was kind of mixed emotions,” Paulak said. “I’m glad with my finish, but at the same time, I’m a little bitter because I was going for the win.”

Blue Springs senior Mady Acers capped a decorated season with an eighth-place finish, the second best local showing. A conference, district and sectional champion, Acers shot 158 over the two days in Columbia.

Lee’s Summit senior Skylar Brunk took 13th with a 163. Kearney senior Anna Zech was part of an eight-way tie for 14th place after totaling 164.

Liberty placed fourth in the team standings, and Blue Springs was fifth.

This story was originally published October 11, 2016 at 8:11 PM with the headline "Park Hill senior Sam Paulak places third at Missouri Class 2 state golf meet."