By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal
SUN CITY – With the final two groups approaching the 18th green Tuesday, Vandegrift and Coppell were in the same spot they finished Monday’s first round – tied.
Unfortunately for the two-time defending Class 6A state champion Vipers, the ball rolled in favor of their challenger.
Coppell’s Alica Bellendir sank her second putt on the 18th hole at White Wing Golf Club in Sun City and clinched the state championship for the Cowgirls, who finished with a three-stroke lead over Vandegrift.
Bellendir finished her two-day 142 (69-73) with a two-stroke advantage over Vandegrif’s Michela Patridge, who was third after the first round. Patridge finished the tournament with a 144 (73-71).
“The three-peat was on our minds from the beginning of the season, but like any sports team, you have your ups and downs throughout the year,” said Vandegrift head coach Aaron Ford, who was awarded the NFHS Coach of the Year award. “We had a young team, but I knew if we came out here and played our best golf, we’ve been battle tested and I knew we had a shot. … We fought tooth and nail on the back nine and had a chance to win. As a coach, that’s all you can really ask for.”
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Rivals Westlake and Lake Travis found themselves in a battle for third place, a matchup that went in favor of the Cavaliers who edged out the Chaps by two strokes.
Grace Hall was the top scorer for Lake Travis, finishing with a 151 (75-76) and tied with Westlake’s Ava Osborne (75-76) for eighth on the leaderboard.
Isabell Emanuels was the Chaparrals’ top scorer with a 150, placing her in a three-way tie for fifth place.
The Vipers will return all but two of their starting five, including Partridge.
“We have a great group of young girls,” Ford said. “I’m really excited for the future, not just for the girls we have coming back next year, but the ones coming up. I think we’ll have a lot of success in the future.”
Class 5A
Just a few miles down the road at Legacy Hills Golf Club, Pieper finished eighth in the Class 5A tournament. The Warriors finished with a two-day 643 and was 22 strokes behind third place Dallas Highland Park. Alamo Heights won the team championship with a score of 589.
Dresden Bounds was the top finisher for Pieper, placing 10th with a 147 (75-72).
Bartrop’s Carly Sherman finished 15th overall with a 151 (75-76).
Class 4A
Davenport couldn’t dethrone state powerhouse Andrews, which won its 20th girls golf state championship Tuesday at Legends Gold Course in Kingsland.
Andrews had a 32-stroke advantage over the runner-up Wolves, who finished with a two-day 665.
Davenport rebounded from a rough first round that saw the Wolves in sixth place going into Tuesday’s final round. Molly Wolds led Davenport with a third-place individual finish with a two-day 148 (73-75). Riley White finished fifth overall with a 150 (77-73).
Salado, which was making its 25th appearance at the state tournament, finished 11th overall.
