Sims, Lake Travis impressive American-Statesman Correspondent

Westlake senior shoots women’s record 8-under 63.

It’s hard to determine the more impressive performance in last week’s District 15-5A girls championship tournament at Lions Municipal —that of Westlake senior Sierra Sims or what Lake Travis did as a team?

Sims, a senior and the two-time defending Class 5A individual state champion, set a women’s course record with an 8under 63 in the opening round. She closed with a 1-under 70 for a winning total of 9-under 133.

But six of Lake Travis’ 10 rounds were under par. The Cavaliers’ scorecard read: freshman Kristen Gillman (68-68— 136, 2nd); senior Julia Beck (70-68—138, T3); sophomore Ann Parmeter (69-60—138, T3); junior Emily Gillman (7472—146, 5th); and senior Courtney Ford (78-80— 158).

Lake Travis ran away with the team title with a neat little 10-under 558. Westlake was runnerup, but 24 strokes back (582). Both advance to the regional tournament April 17-18 at Cottonwood Creek in Waco.

15-5A boys: Last week’s 15-5A boys championship at Kizer was as close as expected. Westlake, ranked fifth in the state, won with a 586 team total. Fourthranked Lake Travis was two shots back at 588. Austin High, which was ranked as high as 10th in the state late in the season, was third at 605.

Matthew Perrine of Westlake shot 72-68—140 to take individual honors. Westlake and Lake Travis move on to regionals April 15-16 at Twin Rivers Golf Club in Waco.

Texas Open: Eight players with Austin ties are in the field as play begins Thursday at the Valero Texas Open at the TPC San Antonio. The Austin contingent consists of current residents Rich Beem, Bob Estes (also a former Longhorn), Troy Matteson, Joe Ogilvie, Tim Petrovic, Wes Short Jr. (another former Longhorn), plus former UT players Justin Leonard and Jordan Spieth.

The Texas Open, which dates to 1922, has been played on several different courses, but the Austin guys have always fared well. It started when Ben Crenshaw, in his first appearance as a professional, won at Woodlake Golf Club in 1973. He also won in 1986 at Oak Hills Country Club.

Leonard has won three times in San Antonio — all at LaCantera Golf Club (2000, 2001 and 2007). Estes won in 1994, at Oak Hills.

Spieth, the Longhorns All-American and a twotime national junior champion, has been turning heads since he left school in December in the middle of his sophomore season to join the PGA Tour. He has posted two top-10 finishes in five appearances.

Spieth will surely be on center stage today and Friday when he’s paired with Rory McIlroy and Matt Kuchar, the Nos. 2 and 9 players in the world ranking. Tiger Woods is No. 1. McIlroy and Kuchar are among 16 players in the Texas Open field who will play next week at the Masters.

Big honor for Nolen: Westlake senior Stratton Nolen is the 2013 recipient of the Byron Nelson International Junior Golf Award, which goes to a junior for his exceptional play, classroom work and community involvement.

Nolen has a bedroom crammed with trophies that include the 2010 Firecracker Open, 2011 Texas State Junior Championship and 2012 UIL Class 5A championship. He also established the Birdies for Blaine program, a fundraiser for a friend who was stricken with muscular dystrophy.

The Masters: Unless some other Austin golfer breaks through this week in San Antonio, Crenshaw will be the only local player in next week’s Masters.

Crenshaw, the Masters champion in 1984 and 1995, will make his 42nd consecutive appearance at Augusta National. His 42 starts ties for eighth most in tournament history, and his 42 consecutive starts are fourth most.