TYLER GANDRUD
Anoka • golf
Anoka senior Tyler Gandrud knows better than to keep track of how other golfers are doing during a round. He couldn’t resist during his season opener. He was paired with defending Class 3A champion Jake Birdwell of Spring Lake Park.
Gandrud shot a 5-under-par 67 to win the Bunker Hills Invitational and beat his Northwest Suburban Conference counterpart Birdwell in the 30-team meet.
“I play in the same group as Jake quite a bit,” Gandrud said. “It’s fun to compete against him. He is such a good golfer.”
It wasn’t an easy round for Gandrud.
“I wasn’t hitting the ball that good all day,” Gandrud said. “I was scrambling a lot. I took advantage when I had chances to make birdies.”
He credited his coach, Doug Orr.
“My coach helped me keep my head straight,” Gandrud said. “My personality is defined by golf.”