Casey Ott earned her second consecutive Girls High School Overall golf championship, but calling Thursday's performance a repeat could be considered a bit of an injustice.
Ott, a junior from Conway, fired a 2-under 70 on a gray, soggy afternoon at Pleasant Valley Country Club. Ott's score was the lowest 18-hole round ever by a female at the Overall since the tournament was moved to Pleasant Valley in 2009. The previous best round was a 72 by Jonesboro's Olivia Loiacano in 2013.
A year ago, Ott captured the Overall title with a 4-over 76.
"Breaking the record wasn't my goal," Ott said. "I was just trying to put a solid round together and see where it put me. I was really just trying to do better than last year."
Ott's round included six birdies and four bogeys. She birdied her first two holes and on No. 3, she had a birdie putt lip out. She knocked down a 30-foot putt for birdie on No. 11 and finished her round with a birdie on No. 18.
"I felt like I couldn't miss a putt today," Ott said. "It was really fun."
Forrest City junior Elizabeth Moon turned in an even-par 72, a score which would have been good enough to win the Overall in almost any other year.
"I felt like I played great," Moon said. "But Casey played better and came away with the win. Honestly, I'm pleased with what I shot today."
Moon recorded the best score on the back nine of anyone in the 21-player field, despite recording back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 15 and 16. Moon admitted the two holes cost her a shot at a victory.
"I probably should have played for par on both on those holes," said Moon, who was the medalist of the Class 5A state tournament.
On No. 15, a 354-yard, par-4, Moon chunked a chip shot that eventually led to bogey. On No. 16 -- a 346-yard, par-4 -- Moon's second shot landed between the fringe and the rough leaving her with an awkward third.
"I liked the back nine other than 15 and 16," said Moon, who had four birdies on the final nine holes. "I felt like that was the best nine holes I've played in a long time."
Ott's confidence also swelled on the back half, especially after she drained the 30-footer on the 328-yard, par-4 11th.
"When I hit that putt, I knew I was going to solidly play the rest of the holes," said Ott, who finished runner-up to Bentonville's Kate Robertson in the Class 7A state tournament two weeks ago. "I knew I'd get a good number on the scoreboard. ... Momentum was definitely on my side."
North Little Rock's Hannah Bakalekos and Central Arkansas Christian's Allie Weiner both shot 79s and shared third-place honors.
Robertson shot an 86 on Thursday, which placed her ninth.
Sports on 10/14/2016