Marion girls send two to states

Marion girls send two to states

6A schools from all over the state gathered at Jonesboro Country Club last week for the girls’ state tournament. Day 1 consisted of conference play and day 2 concluded the state overall. Both Marion and West Memphis competed.

The format for the state golf tournament is to play day 1 for the conference championships. The top half of the team scores after day 1 advance to team play on day 2. The combined, 2 day score determines the champion. Also invited for play on day 2 are the top 8 girls whose teams failed to advance to challenge for the team title. The 8 invitees compete for the overall, individual title.

Neither Marion nor WM qualified as a team for that aspect of competition. However, Marion had 2 qualifiers for the individual title competition. Sisters, Sydney and Morgan Masengale qualified for day 2 play. While Marion had expectations that Sydney would survive the cut, it was a bonus for the team that Morgan, a senior at MHS, made the cut in her final high school competition. Neither girl seriously contended for the title; however, it was a great learning experience for Sydney and a great cap to Morgan’s career.

As expected, the Lady Hurricanes were the class of the field. They won the team 6A East conference title on Monday and capped that with the state title on Tuesday. In addition, senior Mary Claire Meredith won the individual title by firing a two day total of 162. The Jonesboro course played hard and fast all week.

Runner-up in the 6A East conference was Searcy. Greenwood was the 6A West champion and finished 4th in the overall. Competition on the East side of the conference was particularly tough and teams from this side of the state took first, second and third in the state competition.

The boys’ 6A tournament takes place Sunday through Tuesday at Mountain Home.

By The Evening Times Sports Staff