Finishing second at the UIL Class 3A Girls State Golf Championships wasn't quite the goal for Monahans, but it still matched the program's best showing on the sport's top level. Monahans also finished second in 2004.
Monahans trailed by eight shots going into the final round before suffering some difficulties during a round of 332 for 36-hole score of 645. That still was well ahead of China Spring's 669 in third place, though Andrews ran away for the title at 620 -- a new Class 3A state tournament record.
"I asked every one of them when they came off the green, 'Did you learn something for next year,' " Monahans coach Becky Hix said. "They did."
That's good since all five Lady Loboes players should return next season, which should give them a legitimate shot to wrest the title away from two-time defending champion Andrews.
Jordan Jernigan led the way in the second round with a 76 on a day when most of the scores were in the 80s. That gave the junior a 157 for the tournament, tied for low score honors on the team along with sophomore Courtney Rutledge.
"It just all happened to come together," Jernigan said. "It just was a fun day to play. It was real enjoyable to come out here and play and I just thought I'd make the best of my last round of the year."
Rutledge shot an 85 to follow her career-best 72 and the 157 she and Jernigan finished with tied for ninth in the medalist standings, which is good for all-state honors. Victoria Moore also had an 85 to finish at 165 while Shelbye Hill's 86 was good for a two-round total of 166.
Also, Allison Parks shot a 95 and finished at 179 for the tournament.
"I've been telling them for months how hard that second day is with the heat," Hix said of playing in the thick humidity at the state tournament. "I told them they needed to get their bodies ready for that, but until you experience it, it's hard to know."
Also, Seminole junior Samantha Soto shot a 77 to finish at 150 in the medalist standings.
Soto, playing as an individual, finished fourth in the tournament and improved on her sixth-place showing from a year ago. Glen Rose's Whitley Patterson and Frisco Wakeland's Taylor Newlin finished at 148, with Patterson winning a playoff for second place.