Fri, May 16 2008
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OKLAHOMA CITY — Cory Kirk probably summed it up best for Hilldale’s golf team.
“I guess we’re the best public school in the state,” he said, departing Trosper Park Golf Course Tuesday afternoon for an evening meal and trip home.
Unfortunately, the gold ball isn’t prejudiced when it comes to the public vs. private schools argument, so the Hornets, after shooting their best round of the tournament on Tuesday, will have to settle for a silver ball and the tag as Class 4A state runners-up.
Kirk had a lot to do with that rally, shooting a team-best 73 as the Hornets finished with a 303 total for the round. That translated to a tournament total of 910, 20 strokes behind McGuinness. They were 18 back after Monday’s 36-hole marathon. On Tuesday, they leap-frogged over Elk City, which shot 314 and finished at 919.
If not for some bad putting on 18 for both Jordan Perceful and Jonas Granel, the Hornets would have had the day’s best round. Perceful three-putted the final hole to finish with a bogey and Granel’s three-putt gave him his only double bogey.
“That wasn’t the finish we’d hoped for, but I definitely think they showed they belong in the same company with McGuinness,” Hilldale coach Oren Sikes said. “You match up our second rounds and take away that last hole today and we’re right there. We’d beaten them by one today and with the five-stroke difference after the second 18... but you know, that’s golf. We still gave it a great effort.”
Hilldale’s first round of 301 was actually its best of the three, but McGuinness, led by Daniel Stith’s 67, took the field by the throat with a 288. Stith’s 212 total won the medalist race by two shots over Elk City’s Aaron Musick. Two of Musick’s teammates rounded the top five. Blake Walker (215) was third and Tyler Russell (216) tied for fourth with Robert Raborn of Sallisaw, who had the best score of the day, a 1-under-par 69. Raborn’s score edged Fort Gibson’s Brandon Jackson by one shot.
“They had that one good round,” Perceful said of McGuinness. “But I feel pretty good about where we were at.”
Perceful shot a 75 and finished at 218, in sixth place. Granel’s 78 gave Hilldale’s senior a 10th-place finish at 226 as well as an all-state berth which he won’t be able to fulfill. The visa belonging to the Hamburg, Germany, native and exchange student will expire July 1.
“I felt pretty good about my round and my putting until 18,” said Granel, who had won two straight tournaments coming in. “I was close on a lot of putts, but nothing dropped.”
Also for Hilldale, Kyle Sikes shot an 81 and was at 243 for the tournament. Jake Cox’s 86 gave him a finishing total of 246.
After matching 315s on Monday, Fort Gibson’s 321 put it at 951 for the tournament and fifth place overall. Jackson’s even-par 70 was easily the Tigers’ best final round and he was seventh place among individuals, at 224.
Alex Nevitt finished with an 83 and 249 total, Tanner Owens and Parker Minor shot 84s to finish at 233 and 257, respectively, and Kyle Lashley shot an 87 to finish at 252.
Class 6A
OKLAHOMA CITY — Muskogee’s Kyle Menie shot an 83 and finished at 256 as the lone Rougher competing at the Class 6A tournament at Lincoln Park West course.
Union’s Stephen Carney shot a 70 on Tuesday and won the medalist race by three strokes over Edmond North’s Will Kropp.
Menie shot 88, 85 and 83.
Class 2A
Oktaha finished seventh after a final-round 339, giving the Tigers a 54-hole total of 996. Washington won the team title with a 927, six shots better than Fairview, which was led by medalist Logan Herbst (72—209 total).
For Oktaha, Isaac Smith shot 77 and finished 10th after winning a playoff. His tournament total was 229. Cale Elam shot 81—232, Drake Lumpkin 85—252, Shane Leach 96—283 and Cody Hauser a 114—321.
Class 3A
Stigler was 10th of 12 teams at Cimarron Trails Golf Course in Perkins, shooting a 1,036 for 54 holes. Top golfer for the Panthers was Mitchell Rose (84 Tuesday, 248 total), followed by Taylor Stephenson (89-225).
Heritage Hall at 946 was first, followed by Purcell at 959. Kyle Lewis of Bethel was medalist with a 221 after a 77 Tuesday.
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