Girls golf: Monahans finishes off program's first state team title

AUSTIN This was history that seemed to be in the making since the Monahans Lady Loboes last played in the UIL Class 3A Girls State Golf Championships.

That didn't make the experience any less rewarding.

Monahans won the first team state girls golf championship in program history Friday at Roy Kizer Golf Course, finishing off a dominating season with a round of 315 for a two-round score of 620.

Shelbye Hill, Jordan Jernigan, Victoria Moore, Allison Parks and Courtney Rutledge all returned from last season's state runner-up team and made the most of their opportunity, unseating two-time defending champion Andrews (650).

"It seems like we've set records all year and we've been second a couple of times here, so it's great to win it," said Monahans head coach Becky Hix, who played on state championship teams herself at Kermit in 1979 and 1980. "It is hard to stay focused, but with three seniors and two juniors you expect that and they came through. They're a special group."

The 305 shot by Monahans in the opening round Thursday was the best in team history and the 620 matched the winning score last season by Andrews for what is believed to be the best in Class 3A state tournament history.

Hill, a junior, won the medalist title in a playoff after finishing at 148 while Jernigan was fourth individually at 152 after a closing 77.

Jernigan, a senior who has signed to play at McLennan Community College in Waco, said lessons certainly were learned from last year's experience.

"Just to stay calm, especially on the first tee box, just to breathe," Jernigan said. "We knew we couldn't take anybody for granted. Any day anyone can just come back and beat us. We knew that we couldn't just be complacent."

Rutledge finished seventh individually at 159 and Moore tied for eighth at 161 for the type of depth that wins state titles.

Parks finished out the team's lineup by getting 14th individually with a two-day score of 168. She said there was a good reason for such a performance.

"We all worked hard for it - we all did," Parks said. "We kept focused and played hard every tournament. It's worth it. It's all worth it. All the windy tournaments, all the fighting the rain, all that is worth it definitely."

While Jernigan, Moore and Parks are seniors, Hill and Rutledge are both juniors and should provide a big boost toward establishing a Monahans monarchy on the Class 3A state golf scene.

Winning the title Friday was the first step.

"It's a relief," Rutledge said, "but we still have another year, me and Shelbs."

The 2009 team always will have a special place, however, as the first Lady Loboes squad to take home the gold.

There were smiles to go around from the players, parents, coaches and other supporters who saw it get done.

"It was awesome, I loved it and it was great," Moore said. "We're the first to do it, so that's awesome and it's a great feeling."