Edtor's Note: The state golf tournament takes place after Bethlehem Press deadlines.

Last year, Freedom's Helen Hsu left the PIAA East Regional with nothing as she shot a 97.

Last Tuesday the junior departed the tournament with a packet of information for states.

Hsu received that packet after carding an 82 at Golden Oaks Golf Club in Fleetwood, Pa. and finishing 11th in the AAA girls' class, which qualified her for the state tournament as the top 12 advance.

She talked about how she felt after getting the official word that she qualified.

"I enjoyed being out there. I struggled on my second hole, but then I started getting pars. I birdied the first par-3 that I played, which was nice. I lost it then with three, three-putts in a row, but then I pulled it all together at the end."

Hsu, who was the district runner-up two weeks ago, was very pleased with her round as she missed only four fairways and did exactly what she wanted to do going in to it.

"Coach said that the cut was going to be around 84 [before the tournament] and I was trying to better it so I wanted around an 80 and I did just that. I shot around my average for the season and with it being a tougher course I just played the way I can play."

With this being her first trip to the state tournament and being only a junior, Hsu is going to enjoy the trip to York, Pa.

"My mindset is: I'm going to states! I'm going to have fun!"

In the AA girls' class, senior Kiran Singh from Bethlehem Catholic posted an 89 that tied her for ninth place. That finish left her out of states as only the top eight golfers qualify. Singh's 89 was close to qualifying her as the seventh and eighth spots were filled by girls who both shot 88.

On the boys' side, there were two golfers competing in the AAA ranks. One being Bethlehem Catholic's Nick Maff and the other Liberty's Kevin Zakszeski, who qualified for the East Regional by beating two other golfers in a playoff at districts.

Maff, who finished 47th in last year's tournament, shot a 78 and finished in a seven-way tie for 31st. His finish improved from 2012 as he carded an 86, but being a sophomore, Maff will have more opportunities to climb up that leaderboard.

Zakszeski shot an 81 at Golden Oaks, which tied him for 41st. The senior finished strong however as he posted a 3-over 39 on the back nine to finish out his high school career.

Last Tuesday Golden Oaks Golf Club served as the site for a lot disappointment and ended careers. Hsu emerged with neither of those as she left, packet in hand, on her way to the PIAA Tournament.