Golf: Belka siblings to compete at state after winning individual section titles

BEMIDJI – Perham is sending two golfers to the state meet at Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan, and they come from the same household.

Marcus and Mallory Belka won the individual Section 8-2A tournaments last week to punch their tickets to state.

Marcus finished with a two-day score of 152, which was two strokes better than Fergus Falls’ Riley McGovern in second place.

Marcus made four birdies on day one to finish five-over-par. He made eight straight pars on day two before adding another birdie to finish one-under-par on the front nine. He rounded out his day at three-over-par and eight-over for the tournament.

Mallory beat out Park Rapids’ Anna Eckmann by six strokes for the Section 8-2A title. She also made four birdies on the first day before adding four more on the second day.

Mallory is the defending state champion and will defend her title starting on June 14 in Jordan. Marcus is also headed back to state for the second year in a row. He finished in third place at the 2021 section meet before falling out of the top ten on day two of the state meet.