SAN ANTONIO — The Smithson Valley golf team took care of unfinished business at the Texas 5A tournament this week, shooting an overall score of four-under-par to secure the first state title in program history—and just the school's second championship in any sport this millennium.
The Rangers came up six strokes short of victory last season, coming way with a second-place finish.
"I have amazing trust in these guys," Ryan Griff said. "I knew they did well. I couldn't see the scores, (but) I just knew they were going to do well today."
Griff, Anniston McIlwain, Cole Cantu, Aiden Page and Zach Seader combined to shoot 572 over the two-day tournament at Georgetown's Legacy Hills Golf Club, 14 strokes better than second-place Frisco Wakeland.
The Rangers shot a blistering 10-under-par on Monday to position themselves for victory.
"Winning a state championship when you play the best golf and shoot the best rounds of your life, it was a very special moment," said head coach Jason Pape.
Smithson Valley was the only team to finish under-par for the two-day tournament. Walnut Grove, Lake Creek and Georgetown rounded out the top five team finishers.
Griff's tourney score of four-under was good for a second-place individual finish while Frisco Wakeland's Luke Colton (8-under) won the individual title.
But Frisco's second-place individual golfer scored lower than each of the four other Rangers, who equaled or went one-under-par over the two days.
"I think it starts a great legacy," Griff said. "We got one done. Why can't we get another one? That was an amazing feeling."
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