Reese Jansa takes huge step forward in golf career
HARRISBURG, S.D. (BVM) — It wasn’t until Thursday, two days after the final round of the SDHSAA AA girls state golf meet at Bakker’s Crossing in Sioux Falls, that it hit Reese Jansa that she was the individual state champion.
“I think it took till like Thursday with people telling me congrats and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is real, I’m the double-A golf state champion,’” Jansa said. “It took a little bit to settle in, but once it did I was overwhelmed with happiness.”
The Harrisburg junior did more than just win the state championship, she ran away with it, shooting a 134 over the two-day event. Jansa beat second-place finisher and reigning state champion Shannon McCormick of O’Gorman by 11 strokes. Her 8-under-par score is considered to be a state tournament record, beating LPGA golfer Kim Kaufman’s record of 7-under that she set back in 2008.
“Now I see if you put in the time you really get a lot out of it,” Jansa said.
Her showing at the state tournament has been the culmination of a long period of hard work and training that all came together at the right time. This process began even before the season started, but it wasn’t until the season was already underway that Jansa first noticed a difference in her game.
“After I shot my second or third under par round, I really knew I figured out something,” Jansa said. “It wasn’t really before the season because going into this season I didn’t have the best summer last year. I think just putting in all the time and the effort that I did to get better and to fix those things that I really needed too was a big help for me, but I would say after my third consecutive under par round I was like, ‘OK I’m figuring this thing out, golf is hard but maybe it’s not as hard as it seems.’”
To reach that epiphany, Jansa had been working on her putting and wedges as those were two parts of her game she believed needed the most improvement. As someone who could always drive the ball well, adding an effective short game to her arsenal was a huge step for the young golfer.
“My putting was probably what made the state title reachable,” Jansa said. “I mean I made putts from everywhere last week so I just think that was a super big help and then my wedges. I couldn’t hit a green from 50 yards at the beginning of the season and now I hit to three or four feet.”
Jansa showcased her improvements June 8 in the first round of the tournament. Although she entered the day nervous, she didn’t show it as she birdied three of the first five holes. She did have two setbacks as she bogeyed eight and 13, but Jansa didn’t waiver, responding both times and finishing the first 5-under par and six strokes ahead of her competition.
“There were definitely moments where I was like, ‘Oh no, I better make a good shot after I just hit that bad one,’ but I always put the hole behind me,” Jansa said.
That mental strength was key in both her first round at the tournament and at the Eastern South Dakota Conference tournament.
“I was really nervous the first day of state and actually during the conference tournament I was just a little skeptical of my game,” Jansa said.
Jansa won the ESD tournament, and in between conference and the state tournament, she went to work to improve her skills with her father, one of the most decorated golfers in South Dakota with the record for most SDGA titles and a professional career that lasted six years. Her mother is also an impressive golfer who played both collegiately and competed in SDGA events. Together the couple exposed Jansa to the game they love early in her life with Jansa in a stroller and riding in the cart as her parents played.
“Being out there at such a young age, I just learned not only the game but also the atmosphere and how it can be a lifelong sport,” Jansa said.
She got hooked on it and for the last five years it has been her main focus. With her parents helping her as they played round after round of golf, always competitive but also a lot of fun, Jansa has soaked in all the information they gave her. During the time before state, it was the same situation and after an impressive first round Jansa was ready for an encore.
With a large lead entering the second round, Jansa had less nerves than when she had started the tournament. She had a lead and she was going to play like it.
“Going into the second day I knew I had that lead of I think six shots I was really like, ‘You know what I can do this, I can go lower today and really put some pressure on those other girls,’’ Jansa said.
If there was any doubt she could do that, it was dispelled after the first two holes. Jansa opened the day with a birdie and then eagled the second. She would still bogey twice, but it made no difference. She finished 3-under par for the day and 8-under for the entire tournament.
Jansa’s impressive outing stole the show, but her team was right there with her. Harrisburg finished fourth at state and second in the ESD. With three eighth graders, two other golfers that were fairly new to the sport and Jansa as the oldest player on the team as a junior the future looks bright for all the Tigers.
“It’s crazy,” Jansa said. “I honestly think we have a big chance at winning state next year because these girls are so dedicated to putting in the time and effort after seeing the success they had this year. I think that’s good for me too because having a team that is willing to work and willing to put in the time is helpful not only on an individual basis but a team basis.”
As for Jansa, she is excited to finish her high school career strong, maybe even break her own record, but she also knows what could be in future. The last person to accomplish what she did went to play professionally and Jansa is excited to try and follow in her role model’s footsteps.
“Kim Kauffman has always been one of my biggest role models,” Jansa said. “I think that following in her footsteps, playing collegiate golf and then going onto the tour, it’s a crazy dream but it’s definitely reachable.”
