By Ben Rodgers
Editor
SUAMICO – Bay Port High School girls’ state golf champion Jo Baranczyk was formally recognized by the Howard-Suamico school board on Monday, Nov. 5.
Barnczyk, a sophomore, won the state championship with a 142 over two days, good enough for two under par Oct. 8-9 at a demanding University Ridge Golf Course in Verona.
She birdied the final hole of the tournament to beat former state champion Emily Lauterbach from Arrowhead by a single stroke.
Barnczyk trailed Lauterbach by three strokes coming into the final back nine, but recorded five birdies in her last 11 holes to cap the comeback.
Last season she finished tied for fifth place at the state championship tournament, firing a 154, good enough for 10-over par.
Board President Teresa Ford read and presented Barnczyk with a proclamation that highlighted her victory as the first girls’ state champion in the Green Bay area since girls were allowed to compete in golf in 1972.
“It means a lot,” Barnczyk said. “The tournament has been a goal of mine for a long time. Watching my brothers play there, my one brother got very close to winning it and I really wanted to win it. So doing that was a big accomplishment for me.”
Bay Port head coach Jeff Johnson said two days after the tournament Barnczyk was out in 40-degree weather working on her game at the driving range.
“She is not somebody who is going to rest on her laurels and let it go and be happy with it,” Johnson said. “She is plenty happy about it, but she’s going to get ready and give it go again.”
Barnczyk echoed that statement and told the board she has no plans to slow down next season.
“Another state championship would be very nice,” she said.