Carmen Jirele accomplished an impressive feat in 2024 – winning the Class 3A Individual Girls Golf State Title.  The last time Owatonna had a girls golfer crowned individual state champion – a quarter century ago when OHS graduate Karyn (Stordahl) Utecht was victorious in 1999.  Utecht also continued her collegiate playing career at the University of Minnesota.

Jirele, who started playing competitively at the eighth-grade level, found early success in the golf world as part of the drive, chip and putt contest.  She had high hopes of finishing this event at Augusta National in Georgia in early April as part of the Masters.  However, Jirele fell just shy of making the prized trip to Augusta, as a mere middle schooler.  Having had a golf club in her hand since she was able to walk, golf is not the only activity she participates in during the spring.  She also has a keen eye for shooting trap.

During Jirele’s freshman campaign in 2023, she finished a respectable 34^th at the Class 3A State Girls Golf Tournament.  Just one year later, she claimed the ultimate prize after firing a two-day total of 142 (two-under par cumulatively) on the Par-72 Bunker Hills Golf Club in Coon Rapids, Minn.  After a stellar opening-round 69, day two of competition would prove to be filled with further adversity.  “I just kept going hole by hole trying not to watch the leaderboard,” Jirele said. “I knew everyone else still had to play as well so I just did my best to worry about me.”  With the mental portion of golf being arguably more critical than the swing itself on stages like this, Jirele’s ability to stay in the moment helped her birdie No. 14 and No. 17 on the inward nine, enabling her state title journey to reach fruition.

Following her Class 3A State Title triumph in the Spring of 2024, Jirele continued to play well throughout the summer months.  She participated in the Minnesota Junior PGA Player’s Tour as well as some Minnesota Golf Association events.  Although Jirele has experienced some significant individual milestones early in her prep career, she also enjoys being part of a team.  She has been named one of three captains heading into her junior campaign, joined by teammates Anna Mollenhauer and Paige Thompson.  “I really love that golf is individual but part of a team sport,” Jirele added.  “I am a very competitive person.”

Jirele acknowledged that although she is not always the longest hitter on the links, her short game is where she scores.  This is the true recipe for consistent success – drive for show and putt for dough.  Thus far, Jirele is following this philosophy to a tee.  She enjoys fostering her short game skills – most notably working on her craft on the top nine putting green at Brooktree Golf Course in Owatonna.

Jirele improved 33 spots at the state tournament from her freshman to sophomore year as part of the Owatonna High School girls golf team.  One might think that success is a virtual certainty provided how 2024 concluded.  However, Jirele knows that nothing is a guarantee moving forward – and staying hungry is a must.  “There are so many good players out there in the state and I have to continue getting better too,” Jirele shared.  “Golf really depends on the day.”

Any given day and any given round – there are no certainties in this extraordinary game.

Jirele is poised for continued success in 2025.  She finished the 2024 season at the Class 3A state tournament as an individual state champion, she continued her high-level play throughout her summer slate of events and is hyper aware of the importance of staying present in the moment.  One shot and one hole at a time will equate to an exciting spring for this OHS student athlete.

Good luck to you, Carmen Jirele, as you defend your individual crown.