It’s time for some more cake in Lake Orion. Not to mention a banner and some new signs on the streets.
The Dragons captured the Division I girls? state championship in golf on Saturday, turning an eight-stroke lead after the first day of competition into a 21-stroke win over second place, and three-time defending state champion, Grand Blanc.
It is the second team state title in the school’s history, and first for a girls? team.
‘It’s something that happens once in a lifetime,? Coach Megan Daly said. ‘It’s just very special.?
The Dragons shot 341 as a team on Friday and improved by three strokes on Saturday (for a 679 total) at Forest Akers West on the campus of Michigan State University.
Seniors Britney Hamilton and Darby Peters tied for fifth in the state at 156, with Hamilton shooting 76, 80 and Peters shooting 80, 76.
‘They were pumped that they were tied with each other,? Daly said.
It was the second year in a row that both golfers had top-10 individual finishes at the state tournament.
The Dragons also got strong performances from Megan Clemence 89, 86 – 175 and Maggie Hughes 96, 96 – 192 to distance themselves from the competition.
‘It’s obviously been a team effort all year,? Daly said, applauding the play of her #3 and #4 golfers.
‘We were proud that we played solidly (on Friday),? Daly said. ‘But we knew what we needed to do (on Saturday).?
The three seniors on the team returned to Lake Orion after the Friday round to participate in the graduation ceremonies. Daly said that fact might have helped the team take their mind off of the competition and sleep a bit easier with the lead.
But, no matter the reason, the lead did not seem to affect the Dragons on day two.
‘I told them to just play their game,? Daly said. ‘As a team, we wanted to play as if we were behind, not ahead.?
The Dragons could taste the title on Saturday afternoon when a storm front came through and delayed action.
Peters and Hamilton were finished with their rounds when play was stopped. Clemence had already teed off on her final hole and Hughes had just one hole to play, but Daly said it helped refocus the pair for their final strokes.
‘I think they knew they had to finish strong,? she said.
They did and the Dragons had their championship.
Rochester, which went into the tournament as the top-ranked team, finished third with a 706 total.
This year marked the fourth time ever that the state finals had been held exclusively at Forest Akers West. The Dragons? total was just one stroke off of the 678-mark set by Farmington Hills Mercy in 1999.
One of the reasons for their success, according to Daly, was team unity.
‘We’ve all developed a very close relationship,? Daly said of the team.
The squad has already had two celebrations this year to honor the collegiate signings of Hamilton (Western Michigan) and Peters (Eastern Michigan), and Daly promised a third after they captured the state title.
It’s time to get the cake ready.
