Vipers hold off rivals on tough course
Vande gr ift junior Cooper Dossey stated the obvious Monday when he noted that Wolfdancer Golf Club is a demanding par- 72 layout. So, when Dossey admitted, “I really didn’t hit the ball great today,” he had to be pleased with his 2-under-par 70, which helped put the Vipers in the lead with one round to play in the UIL Class 5A state championship.
Vandegrift, now up to Class 5A in the new UIL alignment after winning the 4A title a year ago, posted a 10-over-par 298 to take the first-round lead. The Vipers will have to work hard Tuesday to make it back-to-back state championships. Six teams are within 13 strokes of the lead.
Bryan and Lufkin are just seven shots back at 305. San Antonio Alamo Heights is fourth at 307. Sulphur Springs (309), Texarkana Texas (310) and Grapevine (311) are also in position to make a run.
Dossey is playing in his third state championship. He finished third a year ago, and his 70 Monday put him al one in third again. Garrett Landers of Sulphur Springs took the first-day lead with a 4-under-par 68. Chandler Phillips of Huntsville was al one in second at 69. Those three players were the only ones in a field of 72 to break par.
Vandegrift’s other scores were a 73 by junior Tobin Niblett, 76 by sophomore Daniel Martinez and 79 by senior Skyler Young.
“I really didn’t hit the ball great today, but I had only two bogeys,” Dossey sai d. “I had four birdies, and each of them was just a tap-in. My main trouble today was that I was trying to hit the ball too far. I need to work on that and have better cont rol tomorrow.”
The Vandegrift girls team, playing in its third consecutive state tournament, shot a respectable 324 Monday to tie for third with Aledo. But the Vipers are way behind first-round leader Humble Kingwood Park, which had a 9-over 297. Mission Sharyland was alone in second at 317.
Wolfdancer pl ayed just as tough for the girls as it did the boys Monday. Only 16 pl ayers in the field of 72 broke 80. But four of those, including firstround co-leader Ariana Saenz, were Kingwood Park players.
Vande gr ift senior Erin Fahey, playing in her third state championship, shot 3-over 75 and was in a large group tied for fifth. Cheyenne Knight of Aledo, the defending champion, shot 2-under 70 to share the lead with Saenz.
Brynne Bunte of Georgetown, participating as a medalist , turned in an even- par 72 and was alone in third.
Other Vandegrift scores Monday were 78 by senior Jenna Phillips, 83 by sophomore Story Shaw, and 88s by sophomores Sophie di Gesualdo and Jordan Jalufka.