The Denton Lady Broncos competed in the District 5-4A championship tournament Monday and Tuesday at Canyon West Golf Club in Weatherford and will send senior Lindsey Heal to the regional tournament April 15-18 at Diamondback Golf Club in Abilene.
Trophy Club Nelson claimed the two automatic regional berths as its A- and B-team entries topped the leaderboard.
Heal posted an opening-round 92 on Monday and a 90 on Tuesday for a total of 182, earning the second wild card for regionals behind Wichita Falls’ Katy Goen (178).
“Lindsey just plodded along” Denton coach Mick Maxey said. “She didn’t have a great Monday, but she came back with a 90. I think she was a little shocked.”
It was the first year for Denton to play at Canyon West, with its previous district tournament held at WinStar Golf Club in Thackerville, Okla. Denton’s standout senior Stephanie Mobley, who will play collegiate golf for LeTourneau in Longview, missed the final wild card spot by two shots with a 184.
“It was pretty tough to see that she missed regionals by two shots,” Maxey said. “She’s got her collegiate career to look forward to, and you can’t determine your entire high school career on one tournament. She keeps it in perspective.”
Mobley will be able to accompany Heal to Abilene, as all qualifiers are allowed a guest to play a practice round with and walk the course with during the tournament.
“As excited as you are for one kid, your heart breaks for the other one,” Maxey said. “It’s part of competition, and nobody knows that better than Stephanie. Stephanie will keep her loose.”
The Broncos were coming off last year’s 5-4A title, but district realignment saw Ryan, The Colony and Little Elm leave while the district added Guyer, Azle and Nelson.
Maxey said this season’s district competition was tougher than in previous years.
“We play in one of the toughest golf districts in the state because Byron Nelson is with us,” Maxey said. “They lost to Montgomery, which won state. They are clearly a cut above what everybody else is trying to do. I’d say they are favored to go to state, and it’s an accomplishment for our girls to compete with them.”
Guyer’s Alison Flack (186), Piper Gleadhill (188) and Jessica Moody (189) were in earshot of advancing, while Lake Dallas’ Andi Foster and Molly Freeman posted scores of 184.
PATRICK HAYSLIP can be reached at 940-566-6873.
