CLASS 7A GIRLS STATE GOLF TOURNAMENT: Confident Conway freshman wins state honors in playoff

Fayetteville's Micah Radler came up short of winning medalist honors at the Class 7A girls state golf tournament in Fort Smith. Radler lost to Conway's Summer Roachell in a playoff.
Fayetteville's Micah Radler came up short of winning medalist honors at the Class 7A girls state golf tournament in Fort Smith. Radler lost to Conway's Summer Roachell in a playoff.

— Summar Roachell turned the momentum in her favor on No. 18 at Fianna Hills Country Club. Ten holes later, the Conway freshman was celebrating a victory on the same hole.

Roachell tapped in for a par 4 on the 264-yard hole to beat Fayetteville's Micah Radler in a playoff for medalist honors at the Class 7A girls State Golf Tournament on Monday afternoon.

Starting her round on the back nine, Roachell was 3 over par through her first five holes, but she birdied No. 18 and eventually finished regulation at 1-over 73.

When it was announced that No. 18 would be the site for the playoff, Roachell's confidence soared.

"I was having trouble putting, but I finally got one to drop on that hole," Roachell said. "I hit three pretty good shots on that hole to get a birdie, and I was confident I would get another."

Radler, who forced the playoff with birdies on Nos. 8 and 9, struck a perfect drive on the playoff hole. Using a gap wedge on her second shot, Radler hit the green, but she was left with a 30-foot uphill putt.

Roachell's drive was not as long as Radler's, but her second shot over the pond that guards the front of No. 18 landed only 15 feet away from the pin.

"There might have been a little pressure for me to hit a good drive, but I had been hitting my hybrid good all day," Roachell said. "I knew if I just swung the club like I knew how to, that I would hit just as good of a drive."

"I didn't have enough club," Radler said of the second shot on the playoff hole. "It was downwind and I thought that would even it out, but it didn't."

Roachell just missed a second birdie on No. 18, but she tapped in for par. Radler's long birdie attempt slid past the hole. Her 5-foot comeback putt also missed to give Roachell the medalist title.

Roachell's round included three birdies and four bogeys. Radler's round included four birdies and five bogeys.

Fayetteville earned it sixth consecutive state title. Olivia Lavy and Shelby Daniels each shot 84s and, along with Radler's 73, that gave the Lady Bulldogs a 241. Conway's 247 was good for second with Radler, Erika Setzler (86) and Maegan Wade (88) accounting for the Lady Wampus Cats' team score.

Russellville's Libby Croom shot an 80 to finish as the third medalist. Roachell, Radler and Croom all advance to the Overall tournament, which will be played Oct. 15 at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock.

Although the temperature was about 75 degrees Monday,course conditions did not allow for many low scores. Only 10 of the 49 competitors broke 90.

"We played in tough conditions," said Radler, a junior. "It was windy. You had to be careful about judging the speed of the greens. You definitely had to hit it good. I hit it pretty good. I think a 73 is pretty solid for a day like today."

Roachell said the playoff experience was nothing new to her.

"I've played in a bunch of playoffs actually," Roachell said. "Once you've been in that situation a few times, it doesn't make you as nervous. ... Coming into this tournament, I really wanted to win it as an individual as a freshman. Just getting to the playoff and winning it that way means a lot."Monday's results Fianna Hills Country Club (Fort Smith) Par 72 (5,356 yards) TEAM RESULTS 1. Fayetteville 241, 2. Conway 247, 3. Mount St. Mary 295, 4. Springdale Har-Ber 303, 5. Little Rock Central 328, 5.

Fort Smith Southside 328, 7. Springdale 337, 8. Cabot 331.

Sports, Pages 18 on 09/29/2009

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