Correction: Brooke Matthews of Rogers High School finished second in the Class 7A girls golf state tournament Wednesday at Meadowbrook Country Club in West Memphis. Her last name was incorrect in a story published Thursday.
WEST MEMPHIS -- North Little Rock's Hannah Bakelekos couldn't always match the booming tee shots of Rogers' Brooke Mitchell, but her play Wednesday in the Class 7A girls golf state tournament could best be summed up in a word.
"Consistency," Bakelekos said after winning the individual title on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff at Meadowbrook Country Club.
"I wasn't trying for eagles and birdies," said Bakelekos, who shot an even-par 71 Wednesday after turning in a 73 in the opening round Tuesday. "I was just trying to make par at the worst. If I got a birdie, then it would be extra."
Bakelekos won it with a par on the par-5, 400-yard first hole. She trailed Mitchell by a stroke after 16 holes Wednesday, but she shot par on No. 17 and Mitchell bogeyed as they headed to the final hole of regulation tied.
"I didn't really know the score there," Bakelekos said. "I was just going shot by shot. I was only worried about what I was doing."
Mitchell made a clutch 10-foot putt for par on No. 18 to send the match into sudden death. After a 10-minute break, both players headed back to No. 1.
Bakelekos' drive split the fairway on the first playoff hole, but Mitchell pulled her tee shot into the trees on the left.
Bakelokos reached the green in three and then two-putted. Mitchell, who led by two strokes after the first round, recovered from her dilemma but missed a putt for par that would have extended the playoff.
"This won't be the last time me and Brooke compete like this in big tournaments," Bakelekos said. "We're both sophomores, and we'll be playing in the same tournaments. She's a great player, too."
Mitchell's big tee shots caught the attention of the gallery gathered to watch the final few holes. Aided by the cart path on No. 16, she hit her tee shot pin high to the left of the green on the 275-yard par 4.
Mitchell again out-hit any trouble on the right on No. 17, 30 yards ahead of Bakelekos.
"She can hit it a long way," Bakelokos said.
Fort Smith Southside's Addison Mitchell shot a final-round 72 and finished third at 148, leading the Lady Rebels to the team championship.
Southside finished the two-day tournament at 475, well ahead of runner-up Bentonville (508) and third-place Conway (510).
Conway ninth-grader Casey Ott finished fourth with her second consecutive 75 that left her at 150 for the tournament, and Fayetteville's Anna Grace Levy was fifth at 154.
Sports on 10/02/2014