CABOT -- First-round leader Sydnie Gamble outlasted Jonesboro's Mary Claire Meredith by a single stroke Tuesday afternoon to earn medalist honors at the Class 6A girls golf state tournament at Greystone Country Club.
Gamble, a left-handed freshman from Greenwood, held a five-shot advantage after the 13th hole, but Meredith rallied over the next four holes and the two were tied entering the final hole.
Gamble parred the 417-yard, par-5 No. 18 while Meredith saw her hopes of an individual title dashed when she three-putted after her third shot fell to within six feet of the pin.
"I could have done so much better," said Gamble, who shot a 14-over 86 on Tuesday and finished the tournament with a two-day score of 167. "I was disappointed, but I didn't give up. I knew my team needed me to shoot as low as I could."
Greenwood won the team title with a 559. Searcy finished as the runner-up with a 574.
Meredith, a sophomore, shot a second-day score of 85 and completed her scorecard with a 168. Mountain Home junior Leah Rowe, who played in the same threesome as Gamble and Meredith, finished third with a 177. All three qualified for the Overall tournament, which is scheduled for Oct. 16 at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock.
Gamble seemed to be on her way to an easy victory after she rolled in a par putt on No. 13, a 302-yard par 4. But on the par-5, 439-yard No. 14 -- the longest hole on the Greystone back nine -- the Greenwood freshman hit a short drive that led to a double bogey.
"I could have done better on that one," Gamble said.
Meredith took advantage, draining a 20-footer for a birdie on No. 14, causing a three-stroke swing in the standings.
"I had to change my approach to the way I was playing," Meredith said. "I was using my three-wood because I was scared of the way I was hitting my driver. I became more aggressive, and it got me back into it."
Gamble gained a stroke back against Meredith on the par-4, 289-yard No. 15, but another two-stroke swing in favor of the Jonesboro sophomore came on No. 16 -- a par-3, 89-yard hole. Meredith made a 12-footer for birdie and Gamble bogeyed.
After Gamble shot a double bogey and Meredith took a bogey on the par-4, 350-yard No. 17, the two girls were tied.
Gamble placed her third shot 15 feet above the pin on No. 18. Meredith responded by hitting a pitching wedge from 90 yards out to within 6 feet of the pin.
"When [Meredith] did that, I'm thinking I've got to hit a birdie," Gamble said. "It was further than I wanted it to be, but it was makeable."
Gamble missed her attempt, leaving Meredith an opportunity to swipe away medalist honors.
"I was confident after I hit my pitching wedge," Meredith said. "But the more I thought about it, the more nervous I got."
Meredith rolled her putt a few feet past the hole, then missed the comebacker that would have forced a playoff.
"Putting is not the best part of my game," Meredith said.
Gamble was relieved to have survived her late mistakes.
"The course was a little tougher today," said Gamble, who held a three-shot lead at the turn. "The greens weren't as fast, and I didn't realize that until halfway through the front nine. ... I managed to hold on, but just barely."
Sports on 10/01/2014