Oklahoma high school girls golf: Carl Albert wins first state title
Carl Albert has a longtime penchant for state titles across several sports.
But Thursday, the Titans managed to cover new ground.
The girls golf program joined the club of champions.
With a 659, the Titans won their first girls golf state title Thursday at Dornick Hills Golf and Country Club in Ardmore. After jumping to a five-stroke lead in the first round, Class 5A Carl Albert narrowly escaped a tight second round, finishing only one stroke ahead of Duncan.
“It was a pretty gut-wrenching last hour and a half, last nine holes,” said Carl Albert coach Boone Copeland. “A little lull there at the end, but we held on and won by one shot. It was pretty intense.”
Senior leader Kamryn Zuniga had to bounce back from a challenge while competing in a group with individual champion JJ Gregston of Duncan, who finished with an even 140. Copeland said Zuniga had a tough time on the 16th hole, Dornick’s infamous “cliff hole,” but the Rogers State signee didn’t let one high score discourage her.
With a pair of bogeys on the 17th and 18th holes, Zuniga sealed the state title. She carded a 159 to tie for fourth. Fellow Rogers State signee Rylan Ashley, who missed regionals because of a hand injury, finished seventh with a 165, and Peyton Black tied for eighth with a 166.
In the first round, Ashley shot an 86, but she settled in Thursday to cut seven strokes off her previous score.
“She just got better today, really hung in there and played really well,” Copeland said. “That was probably the playing that held us all together right there.”
Here are more takeaways from the Class 6A-2A state girls golf tournaments, which wrapped up Thursday across Oklahoma:
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Class 4A: Freshman Abbie Justiz wins individual title
Mark Veneklasen avoided giving away the scores.
The Bishop McGuinness girls golf coach realized freshman Abbie Justiz had a chance to clinch an individual state title on the 18th hole, but he didn’t want to rattle her focus.
“I think she had an idea she could do it,” Veneklasen said. “But she really didn’t know.”
At the end of a tight competition with sister Allie Justiz and Ada star Beans Factor, Abbie emerged as the victor at Prairie West Golf Course in Weatherford. With a 9-over 151, Abbie capped her debut high school season with a Class 4A individual championship.
Allie carded a 152 to place second, and the sisters led Bishop McGuinness to a runner-up finish with a 671, only two strokes behind team champion Ada.
“They both took things in stride,” Veneklasen said. “If they had a bad shot, they worked through it. But Abbie was just fortunate enough that she got a couple of putts in and made it. They both played well.”
Abbie, Allie and London Wilson of Ada were in a three-way tie for second at the end of the first round Wednesday. Layne Ailshie of Fort Gibson held the Day 1 lead, but Abbie stayed consistent to take the title, posting rounds of 75 and 76.
She concluded the tournament just one stroke ahead of junior Allie and two strokes ahead of Factor, who finished third with a 153.
More: Oklahoma high school golf: 2023 OSSAA Class 6A-2A girls state tournament results
Class 6A: Jenks goes back-to-back as Herman claims title
Lisa Herman put the icing on a spectacular freshman season.
With a three-under 141, the Jenks star secured a Class 6A individual state title at Meadowbrook Country Club in Tulsa, guiding the Trojans to their second straight team championship.
Just like last year, Jenks stood atop the leaderboard with Edmond North in second place. The Trojans shot a 614 for a roomy lead, and the Huskies carded a 668.
Herman was the sole individual to finish under par. Stillwater junior Lucy Darr placed second with a 151, and Norman North junior Syrah Javed followed with a 152.
Jenks had three golfers in the top five – Lily Stanton and Sophia Lefler were fourth and fifth, respectively. Freshman Natalie Purvis provided Edmond North’s best score with a 163, tying for ninth with Jaeya Mathis and Mimi Hoang of Westmoore.
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Class 3A: Marlow takes championship
Carrying a one-stroke lead into the second round, Marlow created a comfortable distance Thursday.
With a 721, Marlow won the Class 3A title at Lake Murray Golf Course. Runner-up Christian Heritage recorded a 735, while Heritage Hall, the team that ended the first round only one stroke back from Marlow, placed third with a 747.
Meredith Reid of Kingston secured the individual crown. Her second round was 10 strokes better than her first, placing her atop the leaderboard with a 12-over 156.
Class 2A: Turner captures colossal win
Turner’s dominance only increased from the first round to the second.
The Class 2A team champion recorded a 604 to win by 153 strokes at Falconhead Resort and Country Club. Turner carried a 64-stroke lead into the second round, and the gap just grew larger. Tishomingo finished second with a 757, while Mooreland followed with a 759.
The top four individuals were all from Turner. Jaci Hartman won the individual title with a 4-under 140. Runner-up Josi Cavitt posted a 143, Braylee Foster shot a 159 and Hope Hill had a 162.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma high school girls golf: Carl Albert wins first state title
