MONKEY ISLAND – On a windy day on a tough golf course at Shangri-La, it was difficult for too many golfers to find any traction during the Verdigris Valley Conference Championship Wednesday.
One of those that did was Hilldale’s Chandler Puckett, who fired a 68 to win the boys title by eight strokes over Fort Gibson’s Wesley Jackson.
Hilldale won the team title with a score of 325, finishing six shots ahead of Fort Gibson, who, in addition to Jackson, had Dalton Rhoden finish in the top 10 with a round of 83.
The Ridgerunners finished third with a score of 344. Tyler Busch (82) and Spencer Londagin (84) both finished in the top 10, with Tarik Masri (100) rounded out the scoring for Grove.
Led by Goddard’s fourth place finish, the Bulldogs were fifth overall, one shot behind Miami with a team score of 358. JT Allen (90), Dylan Graham (91) and Dakota Sixkiller (98) rounded out the scoring for the Bulldogs.
Hilldale made it a sweep of the team titles when the Lady Hornets shot a 358 to claim the team title, also finishing ahead of Fort Gibson’s 407.
The Lady Ridgerunners, led by Karah Bassett’s round of 95, finished in fourth place with a team score of 428, three strokes behind Oologah.
Bassett finished tied for sixth, with teammate Gabi Fields (102) also finishing in the top 10. Jessica Walker (110) and Michelle Deason (121) rounded out the scoring for Grove.
Katie Kirkhard of Hilldale won the individual title with a round of 86, one shot ahead of Megan McDaniels of Oologah and two shots ahead of teammate Courtney Cunningham. In all, Hilldale had four golfers in the top five.
The Ridgerunners will tee it up again on Monday at Shawnee, while the Lady Ridgerunners will begin their postseason on Tuesday with regionals at Pryor.
