Wednesday, April 23, 1997

Baird girls take regional crown

By TED DUNNAM

Assistant Sports Editor

Foremost of the Bear facts Tuesday was that the Baird girls golf team was just too good for everyone else in the Region II-A golf tournament at Maxwell Municipal Golf Course.

And after shooting a season-best final round of 329, Baird may not know just how good it is.

"It thought we dug down about as deep as we could go yesterday," head coach Gary Roan said. "These girls just keep surprising me. It's a new experience each time we play."

The Lady Bears finished with a 666 total, 32 shots ahead of runner-up Robert Lee which along with Baird earns a trip to the state golf tournament.

Lady Steer Melissa Smith won the individual title with a 71-75-146 total while Baird's Kyla Neal and Pam Mason finished second and third, respectively. Neal, a freshman, posted another stellar round to finish at 75-72-147.

Neal, who plays No. 3 on the Lady Bears' team, had another remarkable round after having never shot better than a 91 at Maxwell.

"I don't know how I did it again," she said. "I didn't go out there trying to shoot another 75. I was nervous at the first and toward the end, but I just hit the ball well and putted well again."

Neal had three birdies in the first five holes and added another birdie at No. 16.

Smith had to hold off the hard-charging Neal to the regional individual title for the second consecutive year.

"I eagled No. 12 and that got me going," she said. "I drove the green about three feet from the cup and made the putt. I think winning this year was tougher because there was more competition.

"We've just got to get focused now to try to win state."

Baird's Pam Mason shot an 80 Tuesday, the second-best round by a Lady Bear.

"We didn't expect to shoot this low, but we did expect to win today," she said. "We knew if we came out and played like we did yesterday that we'd be in good shape.

"Kyla Neal has really helped this team. She's the leader. But I'm happy for the three seniors (Kari Roan, Heather Barry and Mason). It feels great. It would have been sad if we didn't make state this year."

"We had two girls play for us at district that didn't play here," head coach Roan said. "And they're as much a part of this win as these girls are. It's just been an all-out effort by seven girls this year that has gotten us to state."

In the boys division, Petrolia fired a sizzling 316 to overtake Robert Lee and win that title. Robert Lee, though, held off Marfa to claim second place and earn a berth at state.

Petrolia's 316 was 18 shots better than the next-best round.

"They played well today," Petrolia coach Cary Hadderton said. "They shot a 318 in a practice round out here, and they thought it was going to be easy. We just weren't mentally prepared Monday, but we came back today.

"I just told the guys to relax and play golf. Everyone on this team is capable of shooting in the 70s. We feel like we can win state, and we'll do our best to handle that chore."

Also earning a state berth was Marfa's Chris Baker. Baker fired a final-round 75 to win boys medalist honors with a 153 total.

"I felt that if I had the right mind set, I could win here," he said. "About 90 percent of the time, I had the right mind set. After playing the course yesterday, I felt if I could come out and shoot a 76 or better that I could win.

"I drove the ball really well and that helped. This is the first time I've had two back-to-back rounds in the 70s this year."