BENTONVILLE — Bella Vista Country Club will host the annual 7A-West Conference Golf Championships today. The 18-hole, stroke play tournament begins with a shotgun start at 9 a.m.
The top four teams plus the seven highest individual finishers will advance to the state tournament.The girls' state tournament is Monday at Fianna Hills Country Club in Fort Smith. The boys tournament is Oct. 6 at Hardscrabble Country Club inFort Smith.
Four-time defending state champion Fayetteville has a few different faces this year but the Lady Bulldogs are still the overwhelming favorite to win the girls' division today.
Of Fayetteville's four All-State golfers last year, only Micah Radler and Olivia Lavy return. Emma Lavy graduated and now plays for the University of Arkansas. Katie Petrino opted tospend her senior year at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Florida.
Several teams should contend for the boys' title. The Bentonville Tigers, the host school, could be considered a slight favorite because of two things - their familiarity with the golf course and their results the last two weeks.
The Tigers have won their last five matches, with head-to-head victories against Fayetteville and Rogers included.
The Mounties have won this tournament two years in a row. Rogers junior Jes Sanders, 16, has been medalist both of those years.
He and Bentonville sophomore Brik Brauburger each shot 72 (E) last year at Stonebridge Meadows in Fayetteville. In the playoff, Sanders won on the third hole of sudden death.
Sports, Pages 9 on 09/25/2009