Oklahoma high school girls golf: Takeaways from first day of 2023 state tournament
Rylan Ashley had a chance to make a comeback.
The Rogers State signee didn’t participate in the Carl Albert girls golf team’s regional because she had an injured hand for a couple of weeks. But the Titans qualified for the Class 5A state tournament, and she returned to the lineup Wednesday in Ardmore, helping her team finish the first round at the top of the leaderboard.
“She went ahead and played and toughed it out,” said coach Boone Copeland.
As of Wednesday night, Carl Albert’s actual score of 328 was not displayed on the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association website. Instead, the Titans’ score was shown as 343, but this is because it was not updated to list Ashley among the individuals. Copeland said he received the Round 2 pairings, and they did list Carl Albert’s score as 328.
“I think we’re good to go,” Copeland said.
After hours of rain delays at Dornick Hills Golf and Country Club, the Titans prevailed, leading Duncan by five strokes. Kamryn Zuniga is in third place with a 3-over 73, and Ashley carded an 86. With a 69, JJ Gregston of Duncan leads all individuals.
Here’s a look at other storylines from Wednesday’s first round of the Class 6A-2A girls golf state tournaments:
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Class 6A: Jenks builds major momentum
With freshman Lisa Herman leading the way, the defending Class 6A team champion looks poised for another state title.
Jenks leads with a 303 at the end of the first day of the 6A girls golf state tournament at MeadowBrook Country Club in Tulsa. Fewer than 10 miles from home, the Trojans are off to a flying start, sitting 24 strokes ahead of nearest competitor Edmond North.
The Huskies shot a 327, while Edmond Memorial is in third place with a 329.
Jenks finished Round 1 with four golfers in the top 10.
Herman, who broke a record at Bartlesville’s Adams Golf Course this season, is the only golfer under par at the end of Round 1. She carded a 2-under 70. Lily Stanton, her senior teammate, is in second place with a 3-over 75, while Syrah Javed of Norman North and Lucy Darr of Stillwater are tied at 76.
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Class 4A: Ada, McGuinness occupy top two spots
Bishop McGuinness golfers Allie and Abbie Justiz were on the same wavelength at Prairie West Golf Course.
The sisters finished their first round of the Class 4A girls state tournament with matching scores of four-over 75 on Wednesday in Weatherford.
“I think they have a pretty good competition between the two of them,” said McGuinness coach Mark Veneklasen.
But they’re also working toward a common goal: bringing home a championship for the Fighting Irish. After Round 1, McGuinness is six strokes back from the lead. Ada, last year’s runner-up, is at the top of the leaderboard with a 327.
Veneklasen said his young team didn’t play as well as it had in the past, but Thursday brings a chance to refocus.
“My whole deal is, I want them to go out there relaxed and just play golf and play the course,” Veneklasen said. “Not worry about anybody else, and just think about each shot.”
Veneklasen said he knew Ada would bring tough competition, and Fort Gibson is also in the mix, eight strokes back from the lead. Defending champion Layne Ailshie of Fort Gibson leads all individuals with a 73. Behind her, three golfers are tied. Along with the Justiz sisters, London Wilson of Ada carded a 75.
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Class 3A: Marlow, Heritage Hall contend for lead
Marlow holds a slight advantage, but the lead is well within reach for Heritage Hall.
The Chargers sit just one stroke back from Marlow, the team that wrapped up Round 1 with a 367 at Lake Murray Golf Course. Heritage Hall has two golfers, freshman Gabriella Gross and junior Kali Freymiller, in the top 10.
Like the Class 5A tournament, Class 3A had significant rain delays, and the Chargers persevered.
“We played really well considering the conditions,” said Heritage Hall coach Darcey McRay. “Our short game was really good today. If they had a few bad holes, they rallied, and they never gave up.”
Elle Standlee of Prague is atop the leaderboard with a 6-over 78. Megan Kalapura of Holland Hall follows with a 79, and Avery Haddock of Oklahoma Christian Academy is third with an 80.
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Class 2A: Turner in a league of its own
There is a noticeable outlier among Class 2A team scores.
Turner shot a 297 in the first round of the state tournament at Falconhead Resort and Country Club in Burneyville. Tishomingo, the next closest team, is 64 strokes back.
All of Turner’s individual contenders finished the first round in the top five. Jaci Hartman, last year’s runner-up, is in first place with a 3-under 69. Josi Cavitt carded a 71, Hope Hill followed with a 78 and Braylee Foster recorded a 79. With an 81, Hadley Hill of Turner is tied with Stella Caskey of Tishomingo.
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma HS girls golf: Takeaways from Day 1 of 2023 state tournament
