DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
Sharyland High’s girls golf team accomplished something on Tuesday that it hadn’t done since 1999. It partied.
The Lady Rattlers medaled at the UIL Class 5A state tournament at Wolfdancer Golf Course in Cedar Creek, finishing third to take home the bronze medal after shooting a second-day score of 333 for a two-day score of 666. Sharyland High moved up a spot after it finished fourth after the first round Monday.
Grapevine fell from third to fourth by shooting 16 strokes worse than the 327 it shot Monday. Humble Kingwood Park won first with a total team score of 608. Austin Vandegrift won second with a 659.
“It’s really satisfying and rewarding just to see all the work pay off,” said senior Ana Jose Erana, who was the top Lady Rattler after finishing tied for seventh at her fourth state tournament. “This is a true team. We’ve put in all the time and we’re seeing the fruits of the labor.”
Indeed, it was a team effort. After Erana led the way Monday by shooting a 75, Mariana Flores shot a 77 to lead the Lady Rattlers during the final round after Erana settled for an 82.
Erana shot a two-day score of 158. Flores finished with a 163.
After finishing four strokes back of medaling during their state trip last year, the Rattlers made up for it this time.
“We were excited because we knew we had a crack at it,” Erana said. “We just wanted redemption for last year. We came so close and fell short. To finally get it, it made this sweeter. We had to work and wait for it.”
With 20-25 mile per hour winds, Erana said most of the field struggled. Erana said her putts weren’t dropping, though she was happy with the way she struck the ball and her putting stroke.
“It was a tough day for everybody,” Erana said. “The course played tough, the winds were bad. I felt I played better than what my score showed, and Mariana played really well and we all lifted each other up.”
The other members of the Lady Rattlers are Raquel Flores (87-83-170), Laura Rodriguez (85-90-175) and Christina Shinn-Roldan (87-95-182). Erana, Shinn-Roldan and Mariana Flores are seniors.
“I’m really proud of them,” Erana said. “We have three seniors on this team, so it’s really special. We’re friends on and off the golf course. This has been the goal, and for us to accomplish this, it’s really satisfying and we’re happy.”
At the Class 5A boys tournament, Sharyland High freshman Jimmy Lee shot an 82 to finish tied for 10th with a two-day score of 153. Lee shot a 71 during Monday’s opening round and was five strokes back of first place coming into Tuesday.
Austin Vandegrift’s Cooper Dossey won with a total score of 135. Alamo Heights’ Mac Meissner finished second with a 143. Austin Vandegrift’s Brandon Hoff finished third with a 144.
Weslaco High senior McLean Beckwith shot an 80 on Tuesday to finish with a two-day score of 156. Beckwith finished 45th, 13 strokes back of third-place finisher Caleb Hicks of Arlington Lamar.
Plano West’s Travis McInroe won the 6A state tournament with a two-day score of 141.