Ladycats headed back to state

If it’s spring, that means the Aledo girls golf team is headed to Austin. The Ladycats qualified for a third consecutive season and for a 10th time in 12 years after finishing second in the Class 5A Region 1 Tournament at Rawls Golf Course in Lubbock Monday and Tuesday, April 17-18.

Technically, it’s the 10th time in 11 seasons since there was no state tournament in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the team was projected to be among the top three in the state that season.

The Ladycats posted a two-day score of 649, eight shots behind Argyle at 641. Argyle won the past two state championships in Class 4A before moving up in the February 2022 University Interscholastic League realignment.

Both teams advanced to play at the White Wing Golf Club in Georgetown May 15-16, along with third-place Amarillo High, which shot 668 (351-317).

“One of our goals was to get back to Georgetown and we accomplished that,” first-year coach Brian Mourning said. “To get an opportunity to go down there and play again is really special.”

The Ladycats were led by senior Sana’a Lemen, who was fifth overall individually with a score of 153. The Wayland Baptist signee had rounds of 77 and 76.

Also for the Ladycats, senior Maddi Warren came in with a 164, including a career-best 79 on the opening day and an 85 on the second. Mallory Miller, another senior, was one shot behind at 165 (80-85, freshman Emily Crick shot 170 (89-81) and junior Kyla Morales finished with a 177 (86-91).

The Ladycats trailed Argyle by a single shot after the first day and were within striking distance through the front nine on the second day before a couple of holes got away from them on the back nine.

“I think the girls are close to all putting their best round together on the same day,” Mourning said. “If we do that we are a really dangerous team.”

The high winds Lubbock is famous for, ironically, were not a factor in the tournament, Mourning said. However, he did note that the heat was much higher than it was in the Metroplex, particularly on Tuesday.

“The wind didn’t pick up until after we finished,” Mourning said. “Hopefully it will be that way for the boys also.”

The Bearcats were playing in the boys regional tournament on the same course at press time. They are seeking a second straight state tournament berth and fifth in nine years - eight seasons when you exclude the COVID cancellation.

It would also be the fourth time since 2015 that both Aledo boys and girls reached state in the same season. Along with 2022 they did so in 2015 and 2017.