April McCoy returns to defend championship

(Pairings are below story)

Defending girls champion April McCoy of Carrollton is returning for the 2011 tournament in hopes of winning her second consecutive title. April, 18, who is a graduate of Creekview High School, won by 13 shots last year after rounds of 73-77-72 from the white tees at Diamond Oaks C.C., Glen Garden Golf & Country Club and Rockwood Golf Course.

April will be playing golf at TCU this fall. In her senior year at Creekview, she won the regional golf tournament and placed second in the 4A state tournament, only two shots behind the winner. She'll be coming off a second place finish at the Texas-Oklahoma Junior in Wichita Falls.

April might not find the going so easy this year as there appear to be several who could challenge for the title, including a 12-year-old from Amarillo, Marisa Marquez. The Crockett Middle School student began making local news in Amarillo when she was eight years old  by occasionally posting scores in the high 30s for nine holes. She has won three tournaments so far this summer on the Northern Texas PGA Tour, with her low score being a 74. Lyle Taylor, a 15-year-old from Orlando, Fla., and who was born in Fort Worth had entered. However, she said she had misread the dates and won't be able to attend because she will be defending her title at the Children's Miracle Network Disney Junior Tour Championship on July 13th and 14th.

But there are several others who should bear watching. Among those are Jessie White, 16 of Mansfield; Eraina “Rainy” Manor, 16, of Trophy Club; Jaqueline Strickland, 18, of  Weatherford; Jacey Patton of Fort Worth; Sara Posey, 18, of Saginaw; Ashley Bartholomew, 18 of Mansfield; Erica Lautensack, 15 of Arlington; and Elena Cervantez, 17, of Fort Worth.

Erica Lautensack was the 5A medalist in district and MVP at Arlington High School in 2010 and 2011. Jessie White was first team all district in 2010-11, second team all region this year, and in 2010 won championships at Timarron, Bridlewood and Tangleridge in JRPGA events. She also was in the top five in the 2010 Ewing Championship in McKinney, was in the top 10 at the 2010 Starburst in Waco, and took third at the 2010 Legends Tour Charles Coody tournament at Tierra Verde. Rainy Manor posted scores of 78-71 at the 4A regional to place third. Elena Cervantez took second at the district 4A championship. Jaqueline Strickland is a three-time all-district selection and a three-time regional qualifier. Sara Posey was the Saginaw High School MVP three consecutive years and has received a scholarship to East Central University in Ada., Okla. Ashley Bartholomew is another who has received a scholarship and she’ll be going to Angelo State. Ashley won the second flight last year. As a team captain since her junior year, she led the Mansfield Lady Tigers to a District 5A tournament championship. She also was a UIL academic all-state. Jacey Patton, who plays for Temple Christian, was the TAPPS 3A district and regional champion and state runner-up.

There are several other girls who could challenge and more are expected as deadline isn’t until July 5 for the July 11-12-13 tournament.

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2011 First Round Pairings

at Rockwood Golf Course

Starting at Hole No. 1
(Note: There is not a shot limit on players from the White Tees. There is a 10-shot limit per hole on players from the Red  and Forward Tees. If a player reaches 10 shots, she should pick up her ball and go to the next hole to help speed play.)

White Tees    

7:00 a.m. – April McCoy, Elena Cervantez, Eraina "Rainy" Manor,
7:10 a.m. – Ashley Bartholomew, Jaqueline Strickland, Allison Bock, Casey Edwards
7:20 a.m. – Tai Barber, Marisa Marquez, Erica Lautensack, Taylor Lyle
7:30 a.m. – Adriana Morillo, Kellie Martin, Jessie White, Ali Leasor
7:40 a.m. – Jacey Patton, Tanner Wilson, Alexandra Batista, Katie Cameron
7:50 a.m. – Zoey DaneshFar, Caroline Jerome, Sara Posey, Krysta Skelley
8:00 a.m. – Sydney Patrick, Amy Kuprasertkul, Haley Lacativo
8:10 a.m. – Emily Benton, Tucker Coursey, Sarah Fulton, Jessica Liptak
8:20 a.m. – Alexandra Schies, Drewanne Shubeck, Lexi Smith, Isabel "Ellie" Youree
8:30 a.m. – Isabella Kackley, Tarin Leong, Olivia Gibbs, Anya Anderss
8:40 a.m. – Payton Andress, Bailey Brown, Rachel Dahl, Katlyn Johnston
8:50 a.m. – Avery Crofford, Kendall McGahey, Alexis Tallant, Sydney Bowman
9 :00a.m. – Alexandra Brunson, Jamie Gisburne, Chelsea Henshaw, Marykatherine Ingram
9:10 a.m. – Mallory Johnson, Aimee Mires, Cassi Smith, Kelly Fritchen,
9:20 a.m. -- Allyson Springer, Madison Smith, Ashali Vise, Marisa Delgado          

Red Tees

9:30 a.m. – Courtney Bartholomew, Amber Campbell, Sara Porcheddu,
9:40 a.m. – Divya Kurup, , Lexi Hughes, Amanda Rodela
9:50 a.m. – Tara Johnson, Christiana Lovfald, Rylee Pedigo, Rebecca Phariss
10:00 a.m. – Elizabeth Saenz, Katelin Stelter, Ashlyn Albracht, Caly Linton,
10:10 a.m. –Joy Woods, Claire Bernstein, Marley McCune, Kelsea Stelter
10:20 a.m. – Jacqueline Condy, Amy Cox, Emily Dompka, Emily Phariss,
10:30 a.m. –Lauren Cawley, Elizabeth Dover, Magan Fosso, Jessica Markle,
10:40 a.m. – Claire Lautensack, Leah Meza, Hayden Rasor, Lindsey Allen
11 a.m. – Hope Payne, Marina Farrow, Lauren Power, Mallory Levey
11:10 a.m. – Bailey Harris, Emily Matthews, Taryn Pittman, McKenzie Brown
11:20 a.m.  – Rosalyn Barnett, Leah Hudson, Ally Karlen, Autumn Whitehead
11:30 a.m. – Huntir Thompson, Harley Ness, Rachel Torres
11:40 a.m. – Makenna Barbara, Jenna Kenney, Kirsten Clark
11:50 a.m. – Raelyn Littlefield, Mary Layne Million, Kristen Pirkey
Noon – Sarah Torres, Preslie Sandidge, Alejandra Mendoza

9-Hole Division
Starting at Hole No. 10
(Note: 10-shot limit per hole. If a player reaches 10 shots, she should pick up her ball and go to the next hole to help speed play.)

Forward Tees

7 a.m. – Anne Moon, Angelique Francis, Trinity King, Michelle Zhou.
7:10 a.m. – Remington Bassett, Kennedy Turner, Emily Zhou, Karsin Pruett
7:20 a.m. – Aidan Richmond, Quinn Barber, Abby Carroll, Janine Narcisse
7:30 a.m. – Camryn Barnett, Malisone Chanthapanya, Sydney Turley, Amelia Ingram
7:40 a.m. – Taylor Pipes, Courtney Gisburne, Madeline Farrow, Lilli Ingram
7:50 a.m. – Autumn Jettie, Whitney Yates, Sophie Montez, Logan Ybarra
8 a.m. -- Sabrina Stedman, Gina Montez, Arianna Jeffries

Red Tees

8:10 a.m. – Huntir Thompson, Maddie Vondra, Calista Lothliam
8:20 a.m. – Briana Turner, Elizabeth Boll, Alexis Briner
8:30 a.m. --  Robyn Battles, Kennedy Pedigo, Jessica Simants
8:40 a.m. --  Kelsee Pedigo, Rachel Prewitt, Lainey Wright
8:50 a.m. – Kristen Pirkey, Rebecca Prewitt, Kaitlyn Crump, Paige DeBacco