Back in the swing of things

Jeff Harrison
The Edmond Sun

March 26, 2008 10:51 pm

— Spring Break is over and the area girls golfers are ready to return to action. Many of those will get back in the swing of things today with the Deer Creek Invitational at Rose Creek Golf Course. The 24 team tournament should shape up to be one of the toughest in the area.
The Class 6A bracket will feature all three Edmond schools, and the Deer Creek girls will compete in the 5A and under competition.
The Lady Antlers are anxious to begin competing with a full lineup, after playing the first two tournaments without their four seniors. Seniors Holly Berringer, a returning state qualifier from a year ago, Whitney Stracke, Kelly McLaughlin and Megan Caudill will make their season debut today. The team will also rely on junior newcomer Lauren Wright, who shot a low round of 95 and has rapidly developed her game this year.
“I’m really excited to see al the girls get to play, this tournament will set up the rest of the season,” Deer Creek coach Ryan Laverty said.
Deer Creek started the year off with a tough tournament at the Fort Sill Golf Club and were five strokes off at March 12 tournament in Guthrie. Laverty expects this team to do well at today’s tournament and have success this season. While they’re a young bunch, he’s confident they have the ability to qualify for state, but must compete well against 5A front runners Duncan and Ardmore.
Edmond Memorial figures to be one of the top teams in today’s action. Coach Mel Mallett has been pleased with the way her team has started off the season and expects a strong showing again today at Rose Creek.
“I fully expect them to win it, they’re playing well,” Mallett said.
The Lady ‘Dogs started off the season with a strong performance at The Woodlands, Texas tournament and won their last two tournaments, the Azeala Tournament at the Muskogee Country Club on Monday, and the Ponca City Tournament on March 10.
The team’s two brightest standouts have been seniors Kylie Bollenbach and Aubree Vaughan. Bollenbach placed second at Muskogee with a 77, while Vaughan was a close third with a 78.
“They’re both hitting the ball so well and they’ve done a fantastic job,” Mallett said.
Edmond North will also be looking for a strong showing, after falling to Norman North by a stroke at the Guthrie Tournament.
Sophomore Carly Yates is the team’s only returning starter this season. Coach Audra Smalley said she expects big things from senior Maggie Hendrix, who placed third at Guthrie, and junior Lauren Neundorf, who has shown a lot of promise so far this year.
“This tournament will be a good judge where we stand,” Smalley said. “Memorial and some of the better teams will be there, so we can get idea of what we need to work on and how far we are from those competitive teams.”
The Deer Creek Invitational begin with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m.