Austin senior Brittany Bertilson was not happy with her score through the first 18 holes of the 2002 State Golf Tournament -- until she saw the rest of the results.

Bertilson's first-round score of 44-40--84 has her tied for ninth with 18 holes to play today at Bunker Hills Golf Course in Coon Rapids. The 5,809-yard, par-73 course and its players soaked in a consistent downpour of rain through the first day of play, which according to AHS coach Mark Anderson only helped his golfer Tuesday morning.

"It rained 16 or 17 of the holes," he said. "She shot an 84, which isn't too bad for today. She wasn't real happy with it until she saw some other scores.

"She's not disappointed with the way she played, like anybody else she thought she could have played better."

Bertilson trails defending state champion Amy Schmucker of Rocori, Cold Spring by eight strokes for the top spot in the state, while first-round playing partner Samantha Braschler from Red Wing is only five shots out of Bertilson's range.

"I didn't think (my score) was that well, but with the weather and everybody else's scores I'm pretty satisfied," Bertilson said after the first round. "I knew I wanted to be lower than my first round last year. I wanted to keep the ball in the fairway, because in my practice round when I kept it in the middle I shot pars or bogeys at the most."

Bertilson found the rough off the first tee despite her conservative attack with the 3-wood. She double-bogeyed the first hole but came back to grind out a solid first round in the state spotlight, highlighted by six one-putts on the back nine.

"I had to do something to get back in it," Bertilson said. "I just have to drop some more putts."

Coach Anderson said Bertilson's putting on the back nine holes helped to save what could have been a disastrous round for his senior. Three of Bertilson's four double bogeys came on the front nine.

"She chipped and putted phenominally on the back nine," Anderson said. "Her game is her short game, and it was phenominal. Her drive got her into trouble on four holes, and she double bogeyed all four of them.

"With the weather the way it was and the group she was playing with, it would have been easy for her to give up, but she didn't."

Bertilson's foursome included one defending placewinner and three of the top four golfers in Class AA. Braschler sits in second with a 79, Rocori, Cold Spring's Dana Moening is tied for third at 80, and Brittany Willborg is tied for 12th at 84.

"That was probably the best group out there," Bertilson said. "They drive the ball 30 yards past me and it makes mine look like a bunt. That's kind of intimidating, but I just know my short game will be there."

Bertilson teed off this morning at 8:06 a.m. for the second and final round of Class AA girls' golf play, grouped with Willborg, Aino Lange from North Branch, and Amanda Paa of New Ulm. Last season at state Bertilson shot 86-81--167 to finish tied for 12th with Braschler, Paa, and Lindsey Somrock of Edina.

Call Ross Thede at 434-2234 or e-mail him at :mailto:sports@austindailyherald.com.

First Round:

Team standings -- 1. Red Wing 344, 2. Fairmont 358, 3. Woodbury 359, 4. Alexandria 363, 5. Elk River Area 365, 6. Grand Rapids 375, 7. Burnsville 379, 8. Robbinsdale-Armstrong 393.

Individual -- 1. Amy Schmucker, Cold Spring, 76; 2. Samantha Braschler, Red Wing, 79; 3. Dana Moening, Cold Spring, 80; Stacey Linduska, Woodbury, 80; 5. Sarah Harper, Mayo, 81; 6. Chrissie McArdle, Eden Prairie, 83; Krista Swanson, Forest Lake, 83; Whitney Windmiller, Stillwater Area, 83; 9. Brittany Bertilson, Austin, 84; Katie Myos, Faribault, 84; Katie Reese, Mahtomedi, 84; 12. Amanda Paa, New Ulm, 85; Britta Hendrickson, Red Wing, 85; Brittany Willborg, Waconia, 85; 15. Aino Lange, North Branch, 86; Cassie Roforth, Fairmont, 86; Erica McKenzie, Hastings, 86; Katie Bushard, Woodbury, 86; Meredith Waterston, Holy Angels, 86; Samantha Sommers, St. Cloud Apollo, 86.