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Shuck fires 81 on second day at state [UPDATED]
Published 6:21pm Tuesday, June 14, 2011 Updated 1:45pm Wednesday, June 15, 2011Update: Taylor Shuck shot another 81 on Wednesday morning at the Class AA State Golf Tournament, for a 2-day score of 162. Overall results were not yet available.
COON RAPIDS – While a great day with the putter kept Fergus Falls senior Taylor Shuck in the hunt for 12 holes, a tough ball-striking day caught up to him on the back nine Tuesday at Bunker Hills Golf Course.
“He absolutely grinded out the front nine,” said Otter coach Ben Jurgens following Shuck’s 9-over-par 81. “But he would self-admit he was not hitting the ball well, and it finally caught up to him on the back.”
Shuck is currently tied for 56th place with nine other golfers going into today’s second round, 11 shots behind the leader, Forest Lake sophomore Max Kelly.
Thanks to two birdies and a couple of par-saving putts, Shuck was able to hang in on the front despite five bogies. “He was getting up and down and made a couple of clutch par saves on the front,” Jurgens said. “It was one of his best days putting. If he didn’t make them, he rolled them right over the edge.”
Shuck was only 4 over through 12 holes on the back, but followed that with a bogie at 13, and double bogies at the part 5 14th, and the 18th.
“It was just a bad ball striking day,” Jurgens said. “By not hitting enough greens, he was putting himself in too many difficult places.”
Jurgens said he was confident Shuck could improve on his performance today, and end his golf career on a positive note.
“He just has to go out there and put a round together,” Jurgens said. “If he can come in with a round in the mid-70s, he should be within the top 20.”
Assuming the weather cooperates, Shuck was scheduled to tee off at 7:37 a.m. this morning.
In team competition, Eden Prairie led the pack with a 299 Tuesday. Moorhead was in fourth place at 303. Moorhead senior Micah Megorden led the Spuds with a 2-over-par 74 (35-39).
