Bethel: Golfer Kyle Lewis dies…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
I had plenty say about an eventful day 1 of the Oklahoma Coaches Association clinic, but all that can wait a day after the devastating news.
Bethel golfer Kyle Lewis died in a one-car accident coming home from the all-state golf event.
Prayers go out to the Bethel community and all of Lewis’ family and friends.
Reporter Scott Wright got to cover Lewis in basketball and golf and will have his thoughts on what a special kid Lewis was in a blog post Tuesday.
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Monday: Here is Scott Wright’s short story on it.
Tuesday: Coaches, friends reflect on Lewis’ life.
Wednesday: Bethel holds vigil for Lewis at HS gym.
Edmond North’s Alec Heinen wins OJGT event
Alec Heinen’s strong summer continued Wednesday with a victory in the 36-hole OJGT Twin Hills Classic. Heinen began the day with a one-stroke lead and extended it by shooting 72 (142 total) to win by three strokes over a trio of players.
Austen Fuller, Heinen’s Edmond North teammate, shot 145 (74-71) to tie for second with Taylor Williams of Chickasha (71-74) and OKC’s Trent Mewborn (73-72). Alexander Hall of OCS was fifth at 146 (73-73).
Hayden Wood of Edmond won the boys 12-14 age group with a 146 (74-72).
In the girls tournament, Mustang’s June Tigert came from behind for a three-stroke victory over Alexis Sadeghy of Edmond. Tigert entered the day three strokes behind Sadeghy, but shot a final-round 77 — the best round of the tournament — to finish at 159. Sadeghy finished at 162 (79-83).
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Talor Gooch qualifies for US Public Links in a busy golf day
Some unfortunate scheduling left local high school golfers with a choice to make on Tuesday.
Some went to the “Big I” qualifier at Fairfax. Others picked the USGA Junior Amateur qualifier at Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club. And some, like Carl Albert’s Talor Gooch, chose to participate in the US Public Links qualifier at Lincoln Park.
Not sure why all those organizations would hold such important events on the same day, but they did, which makes it rough on the kids who would like to have the chance to qualify for multiple national events.
Gooch and UCO golfer Colby Shrum each qualified for the US Public Links, which will be held in Greensboro, NC, July 12-17. Shrum shot 68-70 and Gooch roared back after a rough start to qualifiy with a 74-65.
In the Big I qualifier, Edmond brothers Alec and Nick Heinen each finished in the top three to qualify for the national tournament July 25-30 in Chesterfield, N.J. Alec Heinen, a key player in Edmond North’s state championship, won the qualifier with a 142 (70-72). Okmulgee’s Jackson Hess was second at 146 (72-74) and Nick Heinen was third at 150 (77-73).
In the girls Big I qualifying, Alexis Sadeghy of Edmond won with a 146 (71-75) and Clinton’s Taylor Neidy was second at 149 (76-73) as the only qualifiers. Just missing out were McGuinness’ Caitlin Farris at 151 and Kingfisher’s Bethany Darrough at 153.
No Okies went through in the USGA Junior Amateur qualifier, though Edmond Memorial’s Taylor Moore, the reigning Class 6A champ, was third to earn an alternate spot. The US Junior Am is July 19-24 at Egypt Valley in Ada, Mich.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Gooch finishes strong at top amateur event
Carl Albert product and Oklahoma State Cowboy-to-be Talor Gooch
Carl Albert product Talor Gooch put together back-to-back 72s in the final two rounds of the Sunnehanna Amateur Championship in Pennsylvania to finish tied for 52nd in an event that regularly brings out many of the top amateur players in the country.
Included in the field — and the only other player with Oklahoma ties — was Oklahoma State’s Peter Uihlein, who was in second entering the final round and finished tied for seventh. Uihlein’s four-round total of 279 (1 under par) was four strokes off the pace of winner Bobby Hudson.
Gooch opened with a 74, then shot 77 on Friday before his pair of 72s on the weekend to finish at 295 in his first event back in action since hurting his ankle shortly after the state tournament.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Westmoore: Jade Staggs video…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
She’s already one of the best golfers in the state, but Westmoore’s Jade Staggs still felt like she had something to prove at the OJGT All-Star Classic.
Stop worrying, Jade.
She was phenomenal as being the only girl to post under par rounds in the two-day event, beating Kingfisher’s Bethany Darrough by two strokes.
Staggs is headed to Oklahoma State.
OCS: Jackson Ogle Classic video…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
OCS’ Jackson Ogle has been dominant all season for the Saints, but he added another notch on his belt with his performance at the OJGT All-Star Classic.
After being tied for third following a first-round score of 70, Ogle was phenomenal in shooting a 67 to win the two-day event by one stroke over Edmond North’s Austen Fuller.
Ogle was a ridiculous -7 for the event.
Ogle won the Class 2A state championship and helped the Saints cruise to the state title.
Golf: Jackson Ogle, Jade Staggs cut above the rest…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Where have my young legs gone? After walking the John Conrad Golf Course in Midwest City all day Monday, I feel 36, not 26.
But I (as well as chum Scott Wright) saw some great golf. I mean THIS is what an All-Star Classic is supposed to be, one big shot after another.
In the end, it was Oklahoma Christan School’s Jackson Ogle edging Edmond North’s Austin Fuller by one stroke (Ogle – 137; Fuller – 138) for the boys title while Westmoore’s Jade Staggs was two shots better than Kingfisher’s Bethany Darrough.
Staggs’ drives are sights to see. You’d have three of the four girls bunched up, and then you’d go another 30 yards and find Staggs. Such power.
But Darrough battled the whole way. The girls started the day tied as both shot a 70 in the first round Sunday. However, through the front nine, Staggs had a three-shot advantage.
We (myself and Scott) missed holes 10-12 as we badly needed food and drink. Darrough made a great charge and got to as close as one stroke after 15 holes (I think).
But Staggs was steady and closed out the show as the only girl to shoot under par in both rounds, compiling a 141 in the two days.
For the boys, now that was fun. Red numbers were a-plenty in the afternoon. Nobody had a better round than Chickasha’s Taylor Williams. After a disappointing 74 on Sunday, he had a tournament-best 66 on Monday.
But the showdown for the title was between Ogle and Fuller with Putnam North’s Zach Tucker just a stroke behind.
Only got to watch the final four holes because of tracking the girls, but what a final four it was as the two were tied. Both just missed birdies on 15. Ogle had a tap-in birdie at 16 to give him the lead.
Then No. 17 was incredible. Thought Ogle wrapped it up with a near 30-foot birdie putt, but Fuller came right back and sank about a 15-footer for birdie as well.
And on No. 18, Fuller nearly holed out on his third shot, prob fell just inches from falling in. Ogle calmly made his par and claim the championship.
I can’t play golf worth a lick so it’s fun watching those that know how to put on a show.
Scott will have the write-ups in Tuesday’s paper. Look for videos on NewsOK with Staggs, Darrough and Ogle (couldn’t find Fuller or would have grabbed him, too).
Great stuff, glad the Oklahoma Junior Golf Tour put this on.
For full results, go here.
Private schools end year in style…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
If you read my Edmond post earlier today, well, get ready for another copout. No Private Schools Player of the Week because we had championships and great outings left and right in this final week.
Who did you think deserved it?
I could have went with the Oklahoma Christian School boys golf team. The Saints were beyond dominant, winning by 66 strokes. Jackson Ogle was great, winning the individual championship. Rustin Purser had the hole-in-one on No. 5, what more could you want?
Well, Heritage Hall did all it could as the Chargers claimed the 3A championship. And Bogert’s boys held off Cascia Hall by 19 strokes.
Max Meyers was tied for fourth while Michael Helton was sixth and Bennett Beard was tied for eighth to lead Heritage, and it was the only class to go the full three rounds.
In soccer, the Irish girls had a dream season but fell short. McGuinness had beaten Bishop Kelley earlier in the season but the Comets earned a 3-1 win in the championship final.
Really good season for the girls, paced by Abbey Akin and Alexa Gonce as the primary goal-scorers with one of the better goalkeepers in the state in Elyse Hight.
To tennis we went where it was a great end of the season for the McGuinness doubles team of John Byrne and Jonathan Kraft.
The duo capped a great season with a state championship, beating Bishop Kelley in straight sets on a wild, delayed weekend.
Heritage had two runners-up and two third-place finishes to end up third as a team. Any other team would be thrilled with that, but the Chargers and Dick Villaflor always expect more. The Saints came out of nowhere to place fourth as well.
So really, who would you give it to? OCS boys golf? Heritage boys golf? McGuinness’ Byrne and Kraft? Not an easy answer. Kudos to all.
Edmond North dominant in final spring week…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
No Edmond Player of the Week this time around. I mean how am I supposed to choose in what was some fabulous results across the board for the Edmond squads?
We started last week with golf and that meant another title for Edmond North.
The Huskies, led by Austen Fuller, won their sixth consecutive team championship by six strokes over Norman North.
However, Memorial joined in on the fun as Taylor Moore ended up as the individual champion, beating Fuller by three strokes. And Santa Fe actually finished ahead of Memorial with Cody Reed and Matt Helms leading the way.
Over in 5A, Ian Davis of Deer Creek was solid but was three strokes off of being in the fun playoff. Davis, of course, is headed to Oklahoma State.
In baseball, three Edmond squads made state (Deer Creek, Memorial, Santa Fe) but unfortunately for their followers none of them won a championship or made the championship game.
Did we overestimate how good the West was or underestimate how good the East is?
Soccer, always a bridesmaid, never a bride – NO MORE. The Edmond North girls finally got that elusive state championship as Courtney Dike scored the game-winner in a 2-1 victory against Union at Broken Arrow.
They end their phenomenal season at 17-1 and without losing to an in-state opponent.
We went to tennis Monday where North earned its first team title in seven years, paced by championships by Nate Roper and the doubles team of Alex Mathieson and Baylor Spring.
And who did they need to beat? Memorial. The Bulldogs had three finalists but couldn’t pull out any titles and placed second in the team battle.
Then track closed out the Edmond sports year as the North girls finished second while the Santa Fe boys duplicated that feat.
Edmond had championships in the girls from Hannah Helker (800), Miranda King (pole vault) and the 3,200 relay while Santa Fe earned the 1,600 relay title.
In the boys, Adam Godwin had a crazy-good day with titles in the 1,600 and 3,200 for North. Gunnar Nixon of Santa Fe earned a title and two runner-ups while Memorial had a championship from Vashon Williams of Memorial in the long jump.
Deer Creek joined the fun when Taler Buck earned the championships in the 1,600 and 3,200.
So, how am I supposed to pick among all that? Congrats to all, great way to close out the school year.
Mustang’s Karson Bizzell signs with Redlands
After completing her senior season in which she finished in the top eight at 10 tournaments, Mustang golfer Karson Bizzell has decided to stay close to home for college.
Bizzell signed last week with Redlands Community College in El Reno, which has won the last two NJCAA women’s golf national championships.
“Karson turned down several Division I scholarship offers in hopes of maybe playing in the Big 12 in a couple of years,” coach Rodney Henning said. “And the thought of winning a national championship also was a draw for her.”
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
