Friday, May. 16, 2008

Return Proves Golden

Carroll Girls Golf Captures First Title with Strong 2nd Day; Boys Take Eighth

By Zach Warner

Staff Writer

Just call them the "Day-2 Dragons."

For the second tournament in a row, the Carroll girls golf team inched their way to the front of the competition. This time, though, it was for all the marbles.

Trailing A&M Consolidated after Day 1 of the 5A state golf tournament last week, the Lady Dragons took the lead on Day 2 to write a new chapter in the program’s history by capturing the girls team’s first state title.

Carroll shot a two-day 631 (321-310) to take a small lead over Lubbock Coronado (637) and claim the gold on May 9 at Jimmy Clay Golf Course in Austin. The Lady Dragons took third at state last year, their previous best finish as a program.

"I think [winning the title] had a lot to do with having the experience from the year before," said Matt Glenn, Carroll golf coach. "All of these girls knew what to expect and they knew what to say and do to get the rest of the team to perform well.

"It wasn’t just one player that carried us," he said. "It was really a team effort."

The Lady Dragons, who were accompanied by the Carroll boys team that also reached state this year after a two-year absence from the tournament, were led by Kailey Presti and Sarah Hurt. Both shot a two-day 156 to finish tied for ninth individually, while Alexa Park shot a 158 to finish tied for 14th.

Presti and Hurt were named to the all-state second team, while Park was an honorable mention. Brynn Donovan (164) and Taylor Slagle (166) also contributed to Carroll’s title march.

Although it was a much closer deficit for the Lady Dragons to make up when compared to the team’s comeback at region, Carroll trailed A&M Consolidated by two strokes (321-319) after Day 1. The Lady Dragons overcame Consolidated (second-day 329) on Day 2, but had to hold off Lubbock Coronado (second-day 312), also making a bid for the title.

At region, Carroll trailed first place by 10 strokes on the first day before winning it by 12, again in front of Lubbock Coronado.

"Last year’s team peaked about two weeks too early," Glenn said of the Lady Dragons. "We were a little flat going into the state tournament. This year, we didn’t really start rocking until we were competing at the regional tournament.

"That’s what every coach is trying to get his team to do," he said. "We shot a 301 the last day of regionals, and that was a great way to head into state."

The boys team, which won the 5A state title in 2004 and finished second in 2005, took eighth place this time around. However, all the competition was very tight, as Carroll trailed the top team by a total of 17 strokes.

The Dragons were in sixth place and trailing eventual state champion Plano West by 10 strokes after Day 1. However, Carroll lost ground Day 2, shooting a two-day 612 (302-310).

"Finishing in the top eight out of however many hundreds of 5A golf programs around the state – that’s not something to hang your heads for," Glenn said. "That’s a pretty big deal.

"Just like the girls from last year, I think they came away with a great education. It could pay dividends for them next year."

Senior Brandon Stewart led the way for the boys, finishing with a two-day 148 (74-74) to finish tied for 11th individually and earn all-state honorable mention. Glenn said Stewart’s contribution was a pleasant surprise after the athlete spent most of the season on Carroll’s second team before moving up to the first team late in the year.

Carroll freshman Tyler Dunlap (155), juniors Justin Wileman (155) and Luke Thacker (156), and senior Brandon Alexander (161) also competed on the team at state.

The Lady Dragons graduate captains Presti and Hurt, but return talent next year in Park, Donovan and Slagle, as well as Elizabeth Stone and Kalie Glenn. The boys team loses Stewart, Alexander and Jeff Hageman, but return captains Wileman and Thacker, as well as Dunlap.

"It was a huge deal having both teams representing us," Glenn said. "The boys were young and the girls were more of a veteran team, but they both came together at the right time of the year."