CABOT — Brooke Alford has moved into lofty territory.
And she wants more.
The junior from Marion withstood a late run by Benton senior Grace Lile to win her third state championship at the Class 6A golf tournament at Greystone Country Club on Wednesday.
Alford matched her firstround 6-over-par 78 for a 36-hole score of 156. Lile, who started the day four shots off the lead, turned a tourney-best 5-over 77 to finish at 159. She had narrowed the deficit to a shot with five holes remaining but Alford had two birdies on the remaining holes while Lile closed with all pars.
“I kinda knew [she was close], but I did not know what it was,” said Alford. “I just told myself to keep pushing and don’t give up. Try to keep gaining on her.”
In team play, Greenwood, which had just one player in the top eight, won the title in its first year in Class 6A, finishing at 559. Lundon Williams, who was Class 5A All-State last year, led the Bulldogs with a score of 176. Greenwood, which also used Allie Barnes (188) and Katie Lotts (195), improved by 11 shots from Tuesday, when it held a 5-shot lead over Jonesboro. Benton, led by Lile’s best of show performance, finished second at 579. Jonesboro and Marion tied for third at 583. Searcy was fifth at 587.
Alford, Lile and Jonesboro’s Olivia Loiacano (161) advance to the state overall tournament Oct. 11 at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock.
Still, the day belonged to Alford, who has heard from several colleges but has not received an offer yet. She lost two shots off her lead on her second hole, the par-4, 310-yard No. 8, but rebounded and had built the lead to six shots after five holes.
But Lile birdied the par 4, 302-yard No. 13 while Alford bogeyed. Lile birdied the par-4 No. 15 and the lead was three. When Alford had trouble for the second straight day on No. 1 -- she had a double bogey 6 after making a 9 there the day before, and Lile made par it was one shot difference with five to play.
“Hole 1 for sure, if I could have just taken that hole out it would have been a lot better,” she said. “I know there are things I could do better and there were some things I could have worked on it and it would not have been as close. But I still won and that is a good thing. it could have been better. Overall I am not too upset with it.”
CLASS 5A
Talley fires a 68
HOT SPRINGS — Clarksville senior Madison Talley shot a 4-under 68 on Wednesday at Hot Springs Country Club to win the Class 5A girls golf state tournament by 11 strokes.
Talley, who won Class 4A medalist honors in 2010 and 2011, helped Clarksville to a runner-up finish in the team competition.
Host Hot Springs Lakeside — behind a 79 from senior Sam Patrico — took home the title for the second year in a row with a 256. It was the Lady Rams’ eighth team title.
Patrico was second individually, while Beebe’s Taylor Harrell was third with an 81.
Wednesday’s results
CLASS 6A
TEAM RESULTS
- Greenwood 559, 2. Benton 579, 3. Jonesboro 583, 3. Marion 583, 5. Searcy 587.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
Brooke Alford, Marion .......78-78—156 Grace Lile, Benton ..............82-77—159 Olivia Loiacano, Jonesboro 83-78—161 B. McMillian, Sherdian .......80-91—171 L. Williams, Greenwood ....91-85—176 S. Roper, Lake Hamilton ... 92-89—181 Delaney Bowles, Searcy .....93-90—187 Hannah Stanley, Jonesboro 94-93—187 Allie Barnes, Greenwood ...95-93—188 Lyndsey Harrell, El Dorado 97-98—195 K. Latts, Greenwood ..........99-96—195 Ashtone Dixon, LR Hall ...86-113—199 Kristen Stewart, Searcy ...99-101—200 Alexa Hart, Searcy ..........103-101—204 Kayla Payne, Benton ........108-98—206 Kaleigh Ramsey, Searcy 103-106—209 Savanah Siler, Searcy ....110-101—211 R. Northcutt, Marion ......105-107—212 Kaylen Presnall, Benton .104-110—214 S. Crawley, Siloam Spr. .109-106—215 A. Ogden, El Dorado ......108-109—217 Hannah Betts, Marion ....112-106—218 Kayla Hallmark, Marion .109-111—220 R. Asherman Lake Ham. ..98-124—222 M. Childress, Mtn Home 103-122—225 A. willbanks, Jonesboro 113-123—236 Kari Lipinski Benton .......121-118—236
CLASS 5A
Hot Springs Country Club
TEAM RESULTS
- Hot Springs Lakeside 256, 2. Clarksville 274, 3. Greenbrier 284, 4. Paragould 301, 5. White Hall 313, 6. Nettleton 323, 7. Forrest City 334, 8. Hope 356, 9. Harrison 358, 10. Batesville 365, 11. De Queen 368, 12. North Pulaski 389, 13. Pulaski Academy 406, 14. Little Rock Christian 412.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
Madison Talley, Clarksville .................68 Sam Patrico, Lakeside .......................79 Taylor Harrell, Beebe ..........................81 Kirsten Garner, Lakeside ....................82 Mackenzie Douglas, Clarksville .........91 Maggie Rose, Greenbrier ...................92 Mallory Miller, De Queen ...................94 Bailey Reynolds, Greenbrier ..............94 Natalie Renaud, Lakeside ...................95 K.C. Wrightam, Greenbrier ................98 Jenna Williams, Paragould ................98 Julia Garcia, Hope ..............................99 Kayla Qualls, Forrest City .................100 Sydney Layrock, Paragould .............101 Jamee Mires, Paragould ..................102 Hannah Dampier, White Hall ...........104 Kristin Qualls, Forrest City ...............104 Carmyn Ruggeri, White Hall ............104 Victoria Gean, Pulaski Academy ......105 McKenzie Stuwart, White Hall .........105 Natalie Akers, Shiloh Christian ........106 Brittany Barnett, Greenbrier .............106 Kelsey Zenko, Nettleton ...................106 Madeline Harvery, White Hall ..........107 Haleight Horner, Lakeside ................107 Sydney Nail, Batesville .....................107 Kristyn Belk, Nettleton .....................108 Ashley Simpson, Paragould ............108 Mckinley Tobler, Alma ......................108 Jessica Erwin, North Pulaski ...........109 Becca Lenards, Nettleton .................109 Brooke Whatney, LR Christian ........110 Brooks Davis, Batesville ..................112 Sarah Carr, Harrison ........................115 Jama Domerese, Clarksville ............115 Megan Hash, Shiloh Christian .........119 Tiffani Yardberry, North Pulaski .......119 Asriel Ward, Harrison ......................121 Cassie Cochran, Alma ......................122 Huyen Ho, Harrison .........................122 Payton Balasco, Hope ......................126 Abby Buchanan, Magnolia ...............127 Catie Lloyd, Vilonia ..........................127 Kenzie Hawks, Vilonia ......................129 Catherine Clay, De Queen ................130 Allie Thomason, Forrest City ...........130 Kirsten Garcia, Hope ........................131 Annie St. Pierre, Pulaski Academy ..132 Cara Kardas, Magnolia .....................135 Jessica Gilmer, Nettleton .................136 Alexis Morgan, Fairview ...................138 Megan Shelly, De Queen ..................144 Allyson Lynch, Batesville .................146 Maddie Gregg, LR Christian ............147 Caitlyn Wright, Hope ........................149 Sarah Fuggette, LR Christian ...........155 Tara Holt, North Pulaski ...................161 Torey Harrison, LR Christian ...........164 Hanya Qureshi, Pulaski Academy ....169
Sports, Pages 19 on 09/27/2012