The Saline Reporter
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Hoffman shoots 190 at state after Day 2 resurgence
Junior struggles on Day 1 before trimming 16 strokes in 2nd round
By Jerry Hinnen, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: June 7, 2007
Some days in golf, it seems the ball just doesn't want to go in the hole.
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Unfortunately for Saline junior Sarah Hoffman, her first day at last weekend's Division 1 state tournament was one of those days.
"One of the girls I was playing with," she said, "told me I was the unluckiest person she had ever met."
According to both Hoffman and her coach Betsy French, putt after putt rolled off the lip of the hole and helped send Hoffman to a first-round score of 103, her highest 18-hole total of the season.
"Forest Akers West (in East Lansing) is not a forgiving course if you don't bring your 'A' game," French said. "Little mistakes turn into big mistakes."
But in a display of resiliency that showed why the junior will be one of the area's top returning golfers next season, Hoffman responded with a second-round 87, shaving 16 strokes off her Day 1 total.
"I was able to just relax and have some fun," Hoffman said of the turn-around. "I feel like I didn't play as badly as my score indicated on the first day. I worked on my swing and played more relaxed, and that helped a lot."
Even the substantial rebound wasn't enough to get Hoffman near the leader-board, but French says that doesn't mean the effort was a waste by any means.
"I think she'll still look back at it as a positive experience," French said. "It's always good to play in that kind of atmosphere and helps her understand what she still needs to work on in her game over the summer."
Hoffman agreed that this year's state appearance, regardless of her finish, would likely help if and when she returned to the state tournament. But she hopes that if she does return, she's able to bring the rest of her teammates with her, as in 2006.
"It's so much more fun," she said. "It's a different feel, practicing for two weeks by yourself and being the only one on the team playing. Hopefully, next year we'll qualify as a team."
French also wished to give credit to tournament organizer Carol Melcher, coach of the state champion Saline boys' golf team, who did "a wonderful job in setting up the course."
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