Today will be a rare day off for Sierra Bennion, sort of.
The Jamestown High School senior-to-be won the two-day state junior North Dakota Golf Association championships in Bismarck on Tuesday. On Wednesday and Thursday, Bennion tied for second at tournament in Alexandria, Minn., in a playoff. Friday, it was a junior PGA qualifier at the Fargo Country Club where she hoped to play better than last year when, "it didn't go very well."
Poor rounds have been rare for Bennion this summer, though.
The win at Riverwood Golf Course in Bismarck earlier in the week netted her a $1,000 scholarship. It was the first tournament she's played in this summer and the first of five tournaments in an eight-day stretch on five different courses.
The only day she wasn't playing tournament golf is today, but there will be a practice round.
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"In the summer, golf is all I really do," she said. "I put a lot of time in. I want to show that I'm ready for the summer season."
After today's practice round, she'll compete in the Optimist Qualifier in Sartell, Minn., tomorrow-a tournament she won last summer. Then on Monday, she'll head for Duluth, Minn., and another tournament on the Minnesota PGA Junior Golf Association tour.
It's making for a summer on the road, although she's thankful her mother (Julie) is usually behind the wheel.
"There's an hour and a half between Alexandria and Fargo, so I was able to get in a little power nap," she said on Thursday, "then I'm ready to go."
Logging miles from course to course is paying off for Bennion. She has the goal of playing Division I golf in college and she's on par to do that. NDSU is showing interest. Just recently she got an email from Southern Illinois University. She wants to pick her college destination by the fall.
"NDSU is one of my top options right now," she said. "As far as what the summer brings, we'll see what happens."
Bennion's high school coach for the Blue Jays-Dean Kraft-always raved about Bennion's power and length. She's happy with her play tee to green, but now is really honing in on her short game.
"My swing right now is the best it's ever been," she said. "That gives me confidence going into tournaments, but I know I still have a lot to improve on."
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There'll be ample time for that for the pleasant-natured and polite Blue Jay standout, who is looking forward to her final high school season in the fall. Until then, she has many more miles to log on the road.
"At these tournaments, I'm usually the one that has to drive the furthest," she said. "People ask me where I'm from, I tell them, 'Jamestown, North Dakota.' They always say, 'Wow, that's a long drive.'
"Yep, it is ... but it's a lot of fun too."
