BELLA VISTA — A seventh-consecutive conference championship was never in doubt for the Fayetteville Lady Bulldogs Friday at Bella Vista Country Club.
A pair of red numbers from sophomore Olivia Lavy and junior Micah Radler paced the Lady Bulldogs' 223 aggregate, which was 75 strokes fewer than their nearest pursuer, Springdale Har-Ber (298).
Lavy and Radler posted career rounds in high school competition. Six birdies highlighted the 4-under 68 carded by Lavy, who showed no ill effects from the wrist injurythat idled her for the two matches that preceded the 7A-West Conference Tournament.
"I went to the doctor the other day, and he said I was OK to play," said Lavy, the conference medalist. "... It didn't bother me."
A bogey at the short par 3 eighth was Radler's only stumble en route to a 1-under 71. She scored consecutive birdies at three and four for an outward half of 1-under 35 and made nine pars coming in to shoot even-par 36 on the back.
Radler hit all 14 fairways and took advantage of Bella Vista's expansive green complexes to land 15 greens in regulation. Though she lamented several putts that went begging, Radler toured the 4,932-yard layout without a three-putt.
"A lot of my putts didn't go in today," Radler said. "I hit good putts, but they went right over the edge and lipped out. I could've played a lot better, but I'm pretty happy with my score."
Lavy hit 17 greens in regulation, scoring identical 34s on the front and back. Her length off the tee and a dialed-in iron game set up her six birdies.
"I stuck a bunch of shots," Lavy said. "That's where my birdies came from."
Friday was the first leg of Fayetteville's pursuit of a fifth-consecutive state championship. The chase concludes Monday at Fianna Hills Country Club in Fort Smith, site of the Class 7A State Tournament. The first tee time is scheduled for 8 a.m.
Radler and Lavy posted impressive numbers on Friday, but coach Kyle Adams hopes they go even lower at Fianna Hills.
"I hope they shoot new career rounds on Monday," Adams said.
Sophomore Shelby Daniels shot an 84 Friday to round out Fayetteville's winning total.
Bulldogs finish 3rd
The Bulldogs' A-game didn't make the trip north, but their grinding led to a third-place finish that qualified them for the Oct. 6 7A State Tournament at Hardscrabble Country Club in Fort Smith.
Junior Justin McDonald's 12-over 84 keyed a 348 aggregate that positioned Fayetteville behind host-team Bentonville (326) and Rogers, whose 307 total spurred it to a third-consecutive conference championship.
Friday was the first conference tournament for all five Bulldogs. The 6,805-yard layout was an exacting test for a young team that lacks distance, but Adams said his greensquad played with a resolve that belied their inexperience.
"We've got five kids that have never played in a conference tournament," Adams said. "There's pressure and everybody's depending on them. I was proud of the way they hung in there.
"... We told them before they went out, 'Don't ever think your score doesn't count.' A couple of them said 'Coach I was pretty close to giving up, but I remembered what you said.' I was pretty proud of them for fighting it out."
The nine-hole total of 44 Joe Greubel shot in the Bulldogs' last dual match on Tuesday secured the fifth spot in Fayetteville's conference tournament lineup. He proved worthy of the selection, shooting an 87 on Friday. Alex Hoffman also carded an 87.
Freshman Sam Hudson, the Bulldogs' top stick coming into the conference tournament, shot 90 to complete Fayetteville's 348 total.
Sports, Pages 8, 9 on 09/26/2009