Siloam Spring girls golf wins 6A-West title
JONESBORO — Siloam Springs’ girls golf team is not leaving the Class 6A State Girls Golf Tournament empty-handed.
The Lady Panthers captured the program’s second conference championship on Monday after shooting a round of 292 on the first day of the Class 6A State Tournament at Jonesboro Country Club.
The first day of the tournament doubles at the conference tournament for the 6A-East and 6A-West teams, Siloam Springs outshot Greenwood (320) by 18 strokes for the victory.
Benton shot a 320, followed by El Dorado 332, Sheridan 347 and Lake Hamilton 385 to round out the 6A-West scores.
It was Siloam Springs’ first conference title since winning the 6A-South championship in 2013.
The second day of the tournament continued on Tuesday. Results were not available at presstime.
“First off I’m so proud of these girls,” said Siloam Springs golf coach Michael Robertson. “They all have made a commitment to be a great team over the last year. Each of them has put in the hours on and off the course to improve and it shows.”
Siloam Springs junior Brinkley Beever shot an 18-hole round of 85, which was second only to Greenwood’s Sydnie Gamble, who carded a low round of 82.
Sophomore McKenzie Blanchard shot a 99 to take fifth in the 6A-West and earn All-Conference honors along with Beever. Sophomore Kaitlyn Robinson shot a 108, while senior Bailey Turner shot 115 and sophomore Jaelee Snyder 118.
“Today the conditions were unbelievably tough,” Robertson said. “Windy, tough rough, fast greens and the pressure of two of
them playing in their first state tournament ever. They stepped up on a day where it would have been easy to put up some big numbers and go the other direction.”
Jonesboro, the defending 6A state champions, shot a team score of 278 on Monday to take the 6A-East Conference title and the overall lead after the first day. Searcy shot 289 in second, followed by Mountain Home in third at 290.
Jonesboro’s Mary-Claire Meredith also shot an 85 to tie Beever for second in the overall rankings after day one.