Ashlee Berner says her shoulders felt the weight of Hilldale’s golf tradition when she played her final tournament at her home course on Tuesday.

It was a burden she held firm against.

Berner shot an 84 for a four-stroke victory over Salena Loggains of Poteau to win the Class 4A regional golf tournament at CobbleStone Creek Golf Club, using a consistent play to help the Lady Hornets to a runner-up finish and the eighth trip to state under coach Kathy Davis in her last year to lead the program.

“It was important to me as a senior to get there simply because it’s my last year to play,” Berner said.

“But this being our coach’s last year I wanted her to go to state. Seeing as how she’s gone every other year, I didn’t want her last year end here.”

“That’s sweet,” Davis said. “I just told them to make my last year good.”

Berner had one birdie, sinking an eight-foot putt on the par 4 ninth hole.

“But the worst I had all day was a bogey so I’m pretty happy with it,” she said.

So was Davis.

“To tell you the truth, I didn’t watch her a lot,” she said. “She’s confident enough to handle her own game and she saved her best round for last — well, unless she tops it next week.”

Davis’ avoidance was indicative of the outcome.

“If I’m doing bad, she helps me, but if I’m doing good, she makes me nervous,” Berner said, laughing.

It was her first tournament win this season. She was second last week at the Three Rivers Conference tournament.

The 4A state tourney is May 5-6 at Lake Hefner Golf Course in Oklahoma City. It will be Berner’s third trip. She was on last year’s state runner-up and the 2008 third-place team as a sophomore. She was an eighth-grader when Hilldale won state in 2006. Those teams produced five college scholarship players at various schools.

Behind Berner for Hilldale was Courtney Cunningham (103), Katelyn Horn (104), Abbye Buckmaster (108) as Hilldale’s qualifying scores. Alicia Thompson also shot 111 for Hilldale. The Lady Hornets were second in the team standings, shooting a 399. Poteau will advance as the regional champ at 378 with Fort Gibson third at 405.

The Lady Tigers’ qualifying scores were Katie Colb and Kinsey Cook, both with 100s. Mycah Higley shot 101 and Jessica Rigsby a 104. Also for Fort Gibson, Taylor London shot 120.

Kelsey Underwood of Checotah qualified for state with her 95.



2A girls regional

Oktaha ran away with the team title at Pryor Creek Golf Course on Tuesday. The Lady Tigers shot 350 for a 41-stroke victory over second-place Tishomingo and freshman Kailey Campbell’s 81 gave her runner-up honors in the medalist race.

Campbell was edged by Tressa Brumley’s 77. The Chouteau golfer is the defending 2A state champion who also happened to win the Three Rivers Conference championship last week, edging the 4A regional champion Ashlee Burner of Hilldale.

“The kids played well on a tough course,” Oktaha coach Chester Pittman said. “We will see how it goes next week.”

Campbell shot 38 on the front nine but a double bogey on 17th all but sealed her fate as the runner-up.

“She played right with her but there were a few moments on the back nine where it got a little rough for her,” Pittman said. “But for freshmen, she and (Madyson) Fox played very well.”

Fox had an 89 and finished seventh overall. Also for Oktaha, Emery Fox shot 90 as did Chloe Nichols. Amy Eller had a 107.

The 2A state tournament is May 5-6 at Sugar Creek Canyon Golf Course in Hinton.

6A girls regional

Muskogee’s Catrina Pearson, playing as an individual, shot 91 to qualify for next week's state tournament. She was 26th overall. Jenks won the team title shooting a 330 in the tournament, played at Lew Wentz Golf Course in Ponca City. Broken Arrow was second at 336 followed by Union in third at 343, Ponca City’s Whitney Manley shot a 74 and won by four strokes over Bixby’s Danielle Campbell (78). The 6A tournament is at Oaks Country Club in Tulsa May 5-6.





 Class 3A girls regional

Eufaula took third and will advance to state after shooting a 392 at Cotton Creek Golf Course in Mounds, as will Keys, which took sixth with a 405.  The Ironheads were led by Hannah Rippy and Faithy Lasiter, both with 94s.  Individual champion Bethany Darrough’s 77 led Kingfisher, which  won the event with a 349 and Victory Christian (367) was second.

Keys’ Sierra Carson shot a 93 to lead the Lady Cougars.

The state tournament is May 5-6 at Cimarron Trails Golf Course in  Perkins.