Junior Key Figure

FAYETTEVILLE — Alison Head knows all about the championship dynasty that is Fayetteville girls high school golf. Head is also all too familiar with the high expectations that come with playing as Lady Bulldog.

But today, for the first time, Head will be front and center as a key figure in the Fayetteville lineup when it goes for an unprecedented eighth-straight state championship at the Class 7A State Girls Golf Tournament. The Lady Bulldogs compete today in an 18-hole first round at Conway Country Club, with the tournament concluding Tuesday.

“It’s a lot of pressure. Coming from that tradition where we’ve won so much, that’s a lot of pressure,” Head said. “But you can’t think about that on the golf course.”

Head, a junior at Fayetteville, has made perhaps the most dramatic improvement since last season. As a sophomore, her scores were still behind other varsity players on the Lady Bulldogs roster. But this fall, improved play has led to a 45.4 scoring average per nine holes and a move to the No. 2 spot on the Fayetteville lineup behind sophomore Anna Grace Lavy.

“Alison has been a pleasant surprise, as far as she’s progressed in a short period of time,” Fayetteville golf coach Scott Williams said. “I think she really became committed to her game in the offseason and worked really hard along with a lot of her teammates.

“Everything was kind of new to Alison as far as the competitive side of it was concerned. But she went out there and got the private lessons and did it as far as getting better.”

While Lavy is expected to compete with Conway junior and University of Arkansas commit Summar Roachell for medalist honors this week, the battle for the team title could come down to how well Head and other Lady Bulldogs perform.

Head knows this all too well. But with another title on the line for the Lady Purple’Dogs, she’s ready.

“It’s a huge honor just to be a part of this team,” Head said. “We’re all just a big family and to cap it off with another state championship would be huge.”