The Jamestown Sun
Jamestown High School golf standout Laura Kraft has already proven she's among the top prep golfers in North Dakota.
Over the next week, she'll find out how she stacks up against some of the best from across the country.
The soon-to-be Blue Jay freshman begins play at the 39th annual Big I Junior Classic in Boise, Idaho, on Sunday, after earning one of only 60 spots in the distinguished tournament.
Kraft easily won the Big I qualifying tournament at Riverwood Golf Course in Bismarck in late June, but since North Dakota doesn't receive an automatic bid into the tournament, she had to wait for someone from another state to drop out. She got the invite earlier this month to play in the tournament, featuring golfers from 43 different states.
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"It's really exciting to have a chance to play in this tournament," she said. "I'm looking forward to it."
As all young and promising golfers do, Kraft has been on the links all summer long, playing in Minnesota's top tour for young players as well as tournaments in the Dakota Junior Tour. She said her game has been a little inconsistent, but seems to be rounding back into form.
"I was good in the beginning (of the summer), started declining, but now I think I'm back up again," she said. "I spend a lot of time practicing. I try to keep improving and stay on top of it."
Kraft's eighth-grade season was one of for the books, earning all-state honors as well as finishing with the third-lowest scoring average in the West Region and 10th-best in the state at 84.7.
The high school golf season is right around the corner as well with practice beginning Aug. 6, before the Jamestown Country Club hosts the season-opening, two-day Professional Eyecare Classic Aug. 13-14.
"I always love the golf season. We have a lot of fun together as a team," Kraft said.
But first things first.
She knows the competition, and the 130-acre Crane Creek Country Club in Boise will be a very tough test.
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Former Big I champions read like a whose who of golfing immortals, including Bobby Clampett (1975), Bob Tway (1976), Billy Andrade (1980, '81), Justin Leonard (1989), Cristie Kerr (1994, '95), Grace Park (1996) and none other than Tiger Woods in 1990.
"I'll really be competing against myself," she said. "The field is going to be very strong. Hopefully I'll play well and have fun."
