Lady Bulldogs primed to continue state champ streak

By David Showers

Posted: August 4, 2009 at 6:30 a.m.

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FAYETTEVILLE — The Fayetteville Lady Bulldog golf team will embark on its quest for a fifth-consecutive 7A State Championship today when the 2009 season commences at Springdale Country Club.

The Lady Bulldogs return two of their top five sticks from the 2008 squad that hoisted a fourth-consecutive state championship plaque last fall. They're led by junior Micah Radler, an all-state performer the last two years who won the Arkansas State Golf Association's junior match play championship in June.

She resides in the No. 1 position in coach Kyle Adams' rotation on the strength of her play this summer. Adams orders his players according to a stroke average derived from four competitive rounds played during the summer break. Radler posted a 74.0 average.

Sophomore Olivia Lavy, the fourth Lavy sister to play golf at FHS, sits at No. 2 after posting a 74.2 stroke average in summer competition. Lavy was one of four all-state golfers for Fayetteville last season.

Senior Katie Petrino was also an all-state performer last season but recently decided to enroll at the Gary Gilchrist Junior Golf Academy in Orlando, Fla. She is the daughter of University of Arkansas head football coach Bobby Petrino.

Sophomore Shelby Daniels bided her time on the junior varsity last season. She starts this year as No. 3 in the rotation with her 80.7 summer stroke average.

"We're counting on her to fill one of those spots," Adams said. "She's had some of her best scores this summer. She was a good player last year and would've been in the top five on most teams."

Adams said the development of Daniels and the return of Radler and Lavy bode well for the prospects of a five-peat. Juniors Alex DelSol and Jessi Cadle round out the six-player squad.

"We've got the potential to be as good as we've ever been," Adams said. "We don't have many girls, but I like the way we've been progressing. We've had a good summer. I like our chances."

Adams like his team's chances notwithstanding the graduation of perennial No. 1 Emma Lavy, the older sister of Olivia who will play for Arkansas' women's golf team this year. She was the medalist at the conference, state and overall tournaments as a freshman and a senior.

Adams said it will take a collective effort to replace Emma Lavy, who never shrank from the spotlight.

"I'm not sure any one player can fill that role," Adams said. "She loves the big stage and having people watch her play. She never got nervous in front of big crowds."

The Lady Bulldogs open the season today in a multi-team tournament hosted by Springdale Country Club.

Boys

The Bulldogs return two of their top five players from the 2008 squad that finished second in the conference and third at state.

Senior Eli Mattioli's play this summer burnished an already impressive resume that included three all-state honors earned during his freshman, sophomore and junior seasons.

He maintained a busy schedule over the summer break that included a spot on the Team USA squad that prevailed over Canada in the North America Cup. Mattioli also posted a top-five finish at the American Junior Golf Association's Elbit Systems of America Junior Golf Classic in Fort Worth, Texas.

He's joined by fellow senior Clayton Spencer, the Bulldogs' No. 5 golfer last season. Spencer will be the No. 2 player when the Bulldogs make their 2009 debut Wednesday at Springdale Country Club.

He and Mattioli comprise the extent of Fayetteville's veteran leadership. Underclassmen, including freshman Sam Hudson and sophomore Ethan Tisdale, make up the balance of Fayetteville's 14-man roster.

Adams said this year serves as an introduction to team golf for many of the younger players.

"It will be interesting to see how the year unfolds," Adams said. "This is a new world for a lot [of the underclassmen]. In summer golf, you're just playing for yourself. Now they'll have to fight through a tough round for their teammates.

"In team golf, every stroke is important. It could mean a conference or state championship."

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