By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

In her first appearance at the state tournament and Southeast’s first golfer qualifying for the state tournament, Taylor Blazek demonstrated she deserved to be there.

Firing a 7-over-par 70 on the Ohio State University Gray Course on Friday, Blazek sits in a tie for seventh place among the 72 competitors.

Blazek is only seven strokes out of first place and two strokes out of fourth.

“I did play good golf,” said Blazek at the end of her round. “I just made stupid mistakes.”

Blazek talked about her second shots.

“I just didn’t get them there,” said Blazek, referencing her approach shots that fell a little short. “I just didn’t think everything through the way I should.”

That’s good news for Saturday’s final round because Blazek has shown in the past that she learns from her mistakes.

“I really like the greens,” said Blazek. “They are pretty smooth and fast, you just have to be careful where you put the ball.”

Blazek offered that she rarely gets nervous, but in the morning before her round, she could feel it in her stomach.

“I don’t usually eat, but I did have some yogurt,” she continued.

That all went away when she started practice putting after arriving at the course.

“The nerves went away, and I was excited for the first tee shot,” Blazek said.

“I am very proud of her,” said Blazek’s coach, Cindy Fesemyer. “When you get to this level, you can easily get distracted, but Taylor was zoned in. It demonstrates the kind of player she is.”

Blazek tees off at 10:50 a.m. on the first hole of the Gray Course on Saturday.

“My plan is to go out and do the same thing only better,” said Blazek.

OHSAA DIVISION II GIRLS STATE GOLF TOURNAMENT

(At Ohio State University Gray Course, Columbus – Par 71)

First Round Results (Final Round Sat., Oct. 14)

INDIVIDUAL: Taylor Blazek of Southeast 77 (tie for 7^th place individual)

TEAM STANDINGS: Columbus Academy 307, Garaway 311, Independence 354, Akron SVSM 358, Laurel 358, Westfall 365, Van Buren 365, Colonel Crawford 367, Mt. Edison 367, Hopewell-Loudon 376, Seven Hills 376.