Lady Tigers Bound For Tourney

If the Class 7A State Girls Golf Tournament is anything like some of the matches involving area teams this season, Bentonville coach Lindsey Davis believes it will be an interesting one.

“All of the Northwest Arkansas teams are close together,” she said. “It’s been exciting, but it means we will have to buckle down in order to get to the second day.”

The two-day event begins today at Conway Country Club with everybody getting a chance to tee off. The field then will be cut in half for Tuesday’s final round.

Davis scheduled an afternoon practice round for her team because most of Bentonville’s girls were unfamiliar with the course and how it played. Senior Brooke Rodney will team up with younger players Emma Kinsey, Hanna Brauburger, McKenzie Dixon and Taytum Billington for the tournament.

“It’s not a long course at 6,200 yards, so it’s playable for the girls,” she said. “But it has some tight fairways. We will have to be straight with our irons.

“That should help McKenzie Dixon, who doesn’t hit the ball long but hits it straight. Hanna should be at the top of the field. Emma has been working on her short game a lot.”

Bentonville closed out its regular season Monday with a 10-stroke victory over Rogers High at Lost Springs Golf & Athletic Club, and Dixon shot a 42 over nine holes to earn medalist honors. This came after a four-stroke loss to the Lady Mounties earlier this season on one of Bentonville’s home courses.

It’s been that kind of season for Bentonville, when Davis’ team had a chance to play. The Lady Tigers had a three-stroke loss to Fayetteville and split their matches with Springdale Har-Ber, but they also had three matches called off and not rescheduled.

“I feel good about the girls,” Davis said. “They have played well, and I think they have a little more confidence going into the state tournament this season. I think they are peaking at the right time.

“It’s been a very quick season, and it’s has gone by faster than normal. But we’re looking forward to Conway and expect to have an exciting two days there.”