Not only are the Bartlesville High Lady Bruin golfers scrappers on the links but they’re unbeatable when it comes to their school courses.
For the second-straight season, Bartlesville has brought home the Class 6A Girls Golf Academic State Championship.
They collected the honor Thursday during the awards’ ceremony at the Class 6A tournament hosted by MeadowBrook Country Club in Tulsa.
But, Thursday otherwise proved to be a character grinder for all the girls, coaches, spectators and officials.
It rained non-stop — and even endured a lightning delay.
Out of that gloom and discomfort the no-quit grit of the Lady Bruins shone brightly.
They shot 372 on Thursday — just one stroke worse than during ideal weather Wednesday.
“Our girls proved their battle toughness,” said head coach Carl Holmes, who noted the scores of several other teams ballooned during Thursday’s adverse conditions.
Bartlesville finished 10th overall among 12 teams in the two-day competition.
Taylor Price led Thursday’s effort for Bartlesville by shooting 85 and finished with 172 (87-85) for the tournament. Emilyn Rainbolt came in at 173 (88-85), followed by Layne Harmon at 190 (92-98) and Vivian Symes at 213 (104-109).
Sophomore Evie Vaclaw made impressive progress by improving by seven strokes on Thursday. She finished at 215 (111-104).
“Evie had a good day,” Holmes said. “It’s really tough for a five-bag in that type of competition. I was only able to be with her a hole or two. She did well for a sophomore in those conditions with no state experience. I was pleased with her.”
The best news of the day occurred with the announcement of Bartlesville winning the state academic title — for the second-straight season.
What made this year’s achievement especially meaningful was that Bartlesville had to replace three 4.0 grade-point-average seniors off last year’s team.
But, this year’s new mix also combined for a cumulative 4.0 grade point average and classroom supremacy among their golfing peers.
Holmes noted how busy his players are year round between playing golf, taking difficult classes and other activities.
He said they have proven they are just as competitive and gritty off the golf course as well as on it.
Holmes has only two seniors to replace off this year’s team, Price and Rainbolt.
This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Bartlesville High girls golfers compete at state, earn academic title