Girls golf takes fourth
Brinkley Beever finished third individually and qualified for the Overall Tournament.
JONESBORO — Fresh off a 6AWest Conference championship on Monday on the opening day of the Class 6A State Girls Golf Tournament, the Siloam Springs girls golf team wasn’t as sharp on the final day Tuesday.
The Lady Panthers followed up their 292 team score on Monday with a 311 on Tuesday and finished fourth overall in Class 6A with a two-day total of 603 at Jonesboro Country Club.
“So proud of all these ladies,” said Siloam Springs golf coach Michael Robertson. “What a fun couple of days we had. This golf course really tests you mentally with the thickest rough and fastest greens our kids have probably ever seen. We never really adjusted to the speed. Obviously, today we didn’t shoot what we had hoped for and couldn’t make a run at the title, but I couldn’t be prouder of these girls.”
Defending state champion Jonesboro retained its title with a two-day total of 552 (278-274), led by medalist Mary-Claire Meredith, who shot a two-day total of 162 (85-77) to repeat as individual state champion.
Searcy took second place overall at 570 (289-281), while Mountain Home was third at 599 (290-309) and Siloam Springs fourth. The Lady Panthers would have finished in a tie for third place, but a four-stroke penalty was levied on Siloam Springs on the final day.
Greenwood finished fifth at 609 (310-299), while Benton was sixth at 652 (320-332).
Greenwood’s Sydnie Gamble took second overall individually
with a 165 (82-83), and Siloam Springs junior Brinkley Beever was third at 173. Beever shot an 85 on Monday followed by an 88 on Tuesday.
The top 15 percent (eight players) in the tournament earned all-state honors and the top three overall, including Beever, earned a spot in the Overall Tournament on Oct. 13 at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock. Beever is only the third Lady Panther to qualify for the overall, joining Emery Rakestraw (2011) and Shelby Crawley (2013).
Siloam Springs sophomore McKenzie Blanchard, who earned All-Conference honors along with Beever after shooting a 99 on the first day, finished the tournament with a 114 for a twoday total of 213.
Sophomore Kaitlyn Robinson had a two day total of 227 (108-119), while sophomore Jaelee Snyder was at 234 (118-116). Senior Bailey Turner carded a 247 (115-133).
“The last couple of days they competed with some of the best players in this state and the experience of handling pressure situations is only going to help as we move forward to next season,” Robertson said. “It’s exciting to see McKenzie and Kaitlyn both put up great rounds. I’m expecting all of them to take big steps over the next year. I’m excited for Brinkley and the opportunity to show what she can do against the state’s best in the overall.
“Looking ahead to next season we return our top four scorers from this week. These girls got so close this year and want to take the jump to the next level. I expect them to work themselves to the title next season. That’s our goal.”