Mason Girls Defend State Golf Title, Led by Burns’ 4th Individual Crown

AUSTIN, TX — The Mason Cowgirls are again the best Class 2A golf team in Texas, and they played like champions in Tuesday's final round at the UIL State Tournament.

Mason began the morning with just a one-shot lead over Spearman, but the Cowgirls ended the day with a 55-shot victory to claim their fifth consecutive state title.

Their final-round score of 306 was a 35-shot improvement from their opening round Monday.

Spearman held on for a runner-up finish, while Sonora was 11 shots back to finish in a tie for third. The Lady Broncos won a playoff against Cisco to take home bronze medals.

Mason’s Ainsley Burns — who will be playing at Angelo State next fall — won her fourth straight individual title by firing a sensational round of 66, rallying her from a four-shot deficit.

Cisco’s Jakelee Wood was four strokes behind in second place, while first-day leader Alice Baird of Bogota Rivercrest ended up seven shots back in third place.

Every one of Mason’s golfers improved on their first-round score. Ruby Hills, who tied for sixth place, shot 85-77—162, followed by Bronwyn Underwood (88-76—164), Anna Marie Whitworth (92-87—179) and Sophia Jordan (95-91—186).

Mason’s No. 2 team also pulled off a remarkable achievement for the school by finishing in fifth place. The team was led by Grace Klaerner (94-86—180), followed by Sabina Perez (87-94—181), Caitlin McCrea (97-97—194), Cameron Asbill (96-107—203) and Kydie Kimbriel (115-106—221).

Sonora was paced by Brailyn Galindo (87-85—172), who was 12th, and Madison Galindo (91-87—178), who tied for 13th. The other Lady Broncos were Lynden Cearley (89-92—181), Gentri Trainer (95-87—182) and Sofia Garcia (114-104—218).

Colorado City’s Kaylynn Epperson, the only other area golfer in the 2A tournament at Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin, was sixth at 82-80—162.

Garden City Girls Unable to Catch Utopia

The Garden City Lady Kats weren’t able to win a fourth straight state title Tuesday, but they gave it a good run.

Trailing by 10 shots to begin the day, Garden City shot a 383 to improve on its first-round score by 32 shots. 

Utopia, however, was even better. The Lady Buffaloes held off Garden City with a 381 to lock up the Class 1A title by 12 shots.

Crowell finished as the third-place team, 30 shots behind Garden City, while Veribest was in fourth, 16 shots behind Crowell.

Crowell had the individual champ in Sage Bearden, who stormed back from seven shots down with a final-round score of 72. Bearden’s overall score of 157 gave her a three-shot win over Grady’s Audrey Marler.

Utopia’s Kinsley Cox finished seven shots behind Bearden in third place after back-to-back rounds of 82.

Garden City’s Keegan Batla shot 94-85—179 to finish in fourth place. She was followed by Joslyn Halfmann (103-95—198), Gracie Raney (108-100—208), Helen Marshall (110-103—213) and Karly Baker (120-135—255).

Veribest’s four-player team was led by Kayden Broadway, who shot 91-96—187 to finish in a tie for seventh. Her teammates all improved their second-round score to help the Lady Falcons move up two spots from sixth. Stormie Luna shot 106-97—203, followed by Bailey Erwin (114-104—218) and Chloe Day (121-115—236).

The only other Concho Valley in the field at the 1A tournament at Crystal Falls Golf Club in Leander was Robert Lee’s Kylen Pitcock, who was 38th with a score of 109-114—223.