Defending state champion Jenks girls golf team dominates course to win 6A East Regional title

By Mike Moguin 

PONCA CITY - Jenks persevered through undesirable weather conditions Tuesday, dominating the course as it conquered the 6A East Girls Golf Regional Championship at Ponca City Country Club, a par-72 course.

The defending state champion Lady Trojans finished with a total score of 302, a 29-shot advantage over runner-up Owasso, who totaled 331, on a chilly, windy and rainy day.

The remaining top six teams who qualified to compete next week at state are Stillwater (third, 333), Broken Arrow (fourth, 341), Bixby (fifth, 348) and Bartlesville (sixth, 356).

Jenks freshman Lisa Herman was the individual medalist, shooting 3-under-69. Lucy Darr of Stillwater was the second-place medalist with a par-72, and two other Lady Trojan golfers finished in the top six.

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Sophia Lefler placed third after carding a 76, and Lily Stanton finished with 78 for a three-way tie for fourth. Josie Clevenger of Broken Arrow and Jessie Moorman of Owasso were the two girls who tied with Stanton.

Also contributing to Jenks for the team championship was Bella Hegley with 79 and Isabella Suttee with 82.

“It is very exciting,” Jenks coach Vicki Hughes said. ”We’ve had four girls in the 70s and won shooting an 82; then of course, our champion shooting at 69, those are amazing scores on a day like (Tuesday).

"We’ve put in a lot of hard work, these girls have practiced a lot. We’ve played through a lot of colder weather outside. We’ve practiced in the rain, not like this obviously, but we’ve prepared for tournament days like this. I felt like the girls came out (Tuesday) with one thing on their mind, they wanted to come out to win.”

With light showers earlier in the day, there was uncertainty if the tournament would carry on.

“(Tuesday) morning, I was doubtful,” Hughes said. “But I’m very happy we were able to get in all 18 holes before this big deluge set in.”

The tournament was able to proceed and complete without disruption caused by any weather delays.

“It was a five-hour round, which is actually pretty quick, so I’m pretty pleased about that,” Hughes said.

“We’ve been fortunate this season, for the east side anyway. It seems like we’ve had a nice season. It’s been chilly, but we’ve not had a whole lot of rain until (Tuesday).”

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Golfers from non-qualifying teams that did qualify for state as individuals were Kate Clark of tourney-host Ponca City (84), Helena Lindsey of Tulsa Union (88), Chelsea Powell of Edmond Deer Creek (92), Avery Fore of Union (94), Amy Ramos of Union (96), Lana Bowen of Deer Creek and Regan Essex of Muskogee (99),

The Class 6A Girls State Tournament will be held on May 3-4 at Meadowbrook Country Club in Tulsa.

Taking first marked Herman’s seventh tournament win of the year.

She said the key to winning was trying to stay focused, “keeping everything on my back drive, making sure I don’t get too mental, trying to hit everything in the fairway and be patient."

Herman, though, had her questions if the tournament would finish when the light rain fell between the front and back nine.

“When I started out the first nine holes, I thought we were going to finish through,” Herman said. “Then it started raining, and I was like, ‘I don’t know if we’re going to be able to finish, but I’m just going to try my best.’’

Finishing out on top is a plus the Jenks freshman will be taking next week to the backyard of both her and her teammates.

“It gives me a lot of confidence, especially knowing that our team played so well, and I played well,” Herman said. “I feel like I can do that and our team can do that at state as well.

“(Winning regional) means a lot, especially with the great competition there,” Herman said. “So I know that being able to win this means I can do it again and hopefully, win state as well.”

Hughes added the short game has been a plus for her team, which was the case in winning the East Regional championship on Tuesday.

“We’ve spent all season working on getting (shots) up and down, in case we miss the greens in this instance," Hughes said. "I can’t just pin it on any one shot, I’d say all five girls hit our short game from about 55 yards in.

"We’ve spent a lot of time that we try to hit the greens in regulations and if we do miss, then let's get up and down and go for pars.”

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With state being at Meadowbrook in Tulsa, the Lady Trojans won’t have to travel.

“It feels really good knowing we don’t have to travel this year,” Hughes said. “It’s going to be a tough field with the west side coming over as well, because Meadowbrook isn’t any easy trek. So we’re going to have to come and throw in 36 holes of really good golf.

"Ultimately, our goal is to repeat, to go back-to-back. But we also know we’re going to have to play really well for two days.”

In closing, Hughes congratulated all the qualifiers, both team and individual, and encourages people to come watch the state tournament next week at Meadowbrook.

Herman also thanked the crew who work to make everything possible for the golfers.

“Thank you to everyone who host the events at high school tournaments, because they really put a lot of work and a lot of effort for us to play these courses,” Herman said.