FAIRFIELD BAY — Jessieville senior Grier Bennett earned medalist honors at the Class 3A girls state tournament for the second year in a row, firing a one-over par at the Mountain Ranch Golf Course on Monday afternoon.
Bennett’s 73 was f ive strokes better than Emily Pyler of Centerpoint High School.
“I did not have a particular score in mind because I really haven’t been playing that well,” said Bennett, who shot a 73 in the 2009 Class 3A state tournament . “I just wanted to come into this tournament with a clear mind and not put any pressure on myself.”
Bennett’s round included two bogeys and a birdie.
“It’s a short par 3 and I was able to hit my tee shot within a couple of feet from the hole,” Bennett said. “I made birdie and I was consistent with every hole after that. ... That hole got me into a good rhythm.”
Jessieville was also a repeat winner for the team title. The Lady Lions’ finished with a 301. Centerpoint was second with a 308.
Pyler, a senior, shot a 78 and picked up her second runner-up award in as many years. Alivia Biggs of Paris was third with a 95.
Bennett, Pyler and Biggs all qualified for the Overall tournament, which will beheld Oct. 14 at the Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock.
For Bennett, it will be her third time to compete in the Overall.
“It’s awesome to win it back-to-back, especially with me being a senior,” said Bennett, who finished fifth in the 2009 Overall tournament. “And it’s cool that the team could win back-to-back titles as well. ... Hopefully, I’ll be able to do a little better in the Overall this time.”Class 3A state results Mountain Ranch Golf Course Team results 1. Jessieville 301, 2.
Centerpoint 308, 3. Smackover 329, 4.
Flippin 348, 4. Rivercrest 348, 6. Cutter Morning Star 380, 7. Green Forest 391, 8. Charleston 402, 9. Brinkley 405, 10.
Lamar 430.
Sports, Pages 21 on 09/28/2010