OU signee Nelke off to strong start in 2A
The 2022 Oklahoma high school girls golf state tournaments got underway Wednesday. Here's a roundup of the action:
Class 6A: Edmond North's Rylee Roberts leads individual race
Ava Fritts likely won't hit a better shot this week than she did on her opening tee shot.
The freshman at Moore started her Class 6A state championship round at Lincoln Park West on Wednesday on the par-3 10th hole. She was the third person of the morning to tee off at 9 a.m. in gloomy, cool and wet conditions.
She also caused the first big cheer of the tournament.
Her tee shot landed short of the pin and trickled toward the cup before falling in. Not many people saw it go in the hole, but once they did, a celebration ensued.
Fritts' first shot of her high school state championship career was a holein-one. Throughout the day and in the clubhouse after, there was plenty of buzz about Fritts' shot, which was the highlight of the first day of the Class 6A girls golf state championship. Fritts shot an 86 competing as an individual.
Although the course was wet from morning showers, the rain stayed away until the final 20 minutes of the first round.
Edmond North sophomore Rylee Roberts has the individual lead at 1-over 73, two shots clear of Westmoore junior Mimi Hoang. Edmond North sits in second in the team competition, three shots behind Jenks.
Edmond Memorial is in third in the team competition.
Deer Creek's Lauren Hurd shot a 4over 76 and is in solo third heading to the final round.
Class 5A: McAlester's Aubrey House takes early lead
McAlester's Aubrey House has a onestroke lead over Durant's Mikaela Karanja at the Class 5A state tournament at Chickasaw Pointe in Kingston.
Carl Albert's Kamryn Zuniga is tied for 8th after shooting a 79. The Titans are in fourth place after the first 18 holes.
Durant leads the team competition by 17 strokes over Duncan heading to the final day.
Class 4A tournament postponed
The Class 4A girls golf state tournament at Buffalo Rock in Cushing was postponed. The first round will be Thursday and the final round Friday.
Class 3A: Jenni Roller goes low
Jenni Roller is well on her way to yet another individual title.
The senior at Tulsa Regent Prep shot a course-record 10-under-par 62 during the first round of the Class 3A state tournament at Lake Murray in Ardmore. Competing as an individual, Roller has a 10-shot lead over Oklahoma Christian School's Brooklyn Benn, the defending Class 3A individual champion.
Roller, a Tulsa signee, won the Class 2A individual crown last season.
Benn is in solo second place, and OCS is leading the team competition by 15 strokes over second-place Marlow. Alex Peters is in fourth after shooting an 80, Katie Jo Eisenhower in fifth with an 83 and Avery Haddock tied for sixth with an 84.
Class 2A: Pocola standout, OU signee Raychel Nelke leads after first round
Pocola star and OU signee Raychel Nelke is in a good spot heading into the second day of the Class 2A state tournament.
Nelke shot a 68 Wednesday on the Aqua Canyon Course at Cimarron National Golf Club in Guthrie. She leads by five strokes over her closest competitor, Turner's Josey Cavitt.
Nelke is the only player from Pocola competing at the tournament and will attempt to win her first state title after placing third last year.
Turner leads in the team standings as it looks to win its second straight championship. Turner has 333 points and is followed by Mooreland (386) and Christian Heritage (387).
Behind Nelke and Cavitt in the individual standings are Turner's Jaci Hartman (74), Prague's Elle Standlee (80) and Christian Heritage's Gracie Levonitis (88).