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We are the Champions: Allen golf wins third state title
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
After Allen won the District 8-5A Girls Golf Tournament by 60 strokes, Plano Senior head coach Corey Coursey had an emphatic prediction for the Lady Eagles' future.
"Those are your state champions right there," he said. "Allen is going to win for sure."
"I don't think The Woodlands, El Paso Eastwood and Austin Westlake were ready to concede," said Karen Gravley, Allen head coach, when told of Coursey's statement. "But I'm glad he was right."
"Every single girl on this team did something we needed to get this state title," Gravley said, "and that's something no one can ever take away from them."
As is often the case, getting that state title wasn't easy.
Despite a nightmarish Day 1 run on No. 15, a par 4 with a right dogleg, that cost Allen seven strokes in the team race, the Lady Eagles posted a 288 to establish a three-stroke lead over The Woodlands. Contributing heavily to that score was Szeryk, who birdied No. 3, 12, 14 and 18 for a 4-under par score of 66.
"Maddie played so well," Gravley said. "Every golfer says coulda, shoulda after their rounds, but she had some great approach shots and if her putter had totally been on fire then she could have shot a 63."
Szeryk, the district and regional champion the past two years, still led by one stroke over Westlake's Sierra Sims, the defending state champion, through 18 holes.
"Day 1 was big because then we weren't playing catch-up on Day 2," Gravley said. "We had the cushion, which we needed after the first few holes brought us back to the rest of the field."
With the benefit of unofficial live scoring, Allen knew The Woodlands had drawn even by No. 12.
The Lady Eagles had to refocus, especially with No. 15 approaching.
"I asked the girls, 'how big is the fight in you,'" Gravley said. "They clearly answered that because we won this state title on 13-18."
The contributions came across the board in the final round. LaBarbera rebounded from a quadruple bogey on No. 2 to card a 73. LaBarbera's two-day total of 145 tied her for sixth individually with Ha, who posted a 71 on Day 2 and birdied No. 14 to get the Lady Eagles rolling. Tidwell (153, 23rd) also proved steady on the final six holes with five pars.
"Those were some huge performances," Gravley said. "We held together on those crucial holes and really kicked into second gear. We adopted the slogan of the football team; we started strong and we wanted to finish strong."
That included a much better performance on No. 15 as Allen posted three pars and two bogies on a Par 4 that yielded an average score of 5.9.
"By the time Maddie got to No. 15, we saw the other teams' numbers jump because of all the bogies," Gravley said. "We were making pars and the other teams were making bogies.
With Gravley telling players to, "Take a par and go to the house," and the quintet of Szeryk, Ha, LaBarbera, Tidwell and Akasaka abiding, Allen had essentially sealed the title by No. 17. The only thing left to decide was the individual state crown with Szeryk and Sims still neck-and-neck.
Szeryk faced a 15-foot par putt on No. 18, needing it to force a playoff. The sizable Allen crowd, which included athletic director Steve Williams, assistant athletic director Kim Garner and Allen ISD superintendent Ken Helvey, watched on.
"It really was an Allen golf family effort," Gravley said. "They were so excited the whole day, but on that last putt, nobody moved."
Szeryk took her putt.
"It had the perfect speed and line, it was going in," Gravley said. "It went into the cup, looped around, came back up and sat on the lip of the cup."
With a 72 on Day 2, Szeryk settled for a silver medal.
"Maddie was obviously extremely disappointed," Gravley said. "There was total silence for a moment and then a round of applause, which Maddie absolutely deserved for playing so well, being our No. 1 and serving as the team leader.
"She was third last year and second this year, so there is only one place left for her to go up."
Szeryk was in tears before looking at LaBarbera and saying, "Did we win?"
The Lady Eagles had by 11 strokes.
That led to a celebration all the way back to Allen, and the continuation of a tradition.
"I told the girls they had to play 'We are the Champions' down Rivercrest," Gravley said. "They did and it was great."
With four sophomore starters, that song may be replayed in the years to come.
"I was so impressed with how smooth the transition was with this team, especially considering how young they are," Gravley said. "And as any coach, I'm already looking at next year ... and the year after that."
Newby places 24th at state
It wasn't just the girls representing Allen at state as senior Justin Newby participated as a medalist.
Newby (Texas State) shot an even-par on Day 1 for third place.
"Justin went to Prom on Saturday and didn't get in to Austin until Sunday, so he didn't get much sleep before teeing off Monday," Gravley said before jokingly adding, "Maybe he should play on little sleep more often."
Newby slid back Tuesday after double-bogeys on 7 and 9, shooting a 79 to tie for 24th.
"There were a couple holes that took the wind out of Justin's sails," Gravley said, "but after it was all finished I think he realized what a big deal it was just to get to state. And we are all so proud of him and what he has accomplished over the past four years."
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