With a top-tier talent in Ryan O’Rear leading the way, the Eagles added golf newcomers Tom Baine and Craig Little to bolster their lineup.
On Tuesday afternoon, those state championship dreams became reality.
With O’Rear shooting a 4-under-par 67 to claim his second straight state title, Salado fired a season-best 301 to rally from a two-stroke deficit for a two-stroke victory over two-time defending champion Edgewood to win the University Interscholastic League Class 2A State Golf Tournament at Roy Kizer Golf Course.
“We always had that mindset,” Pines, who shot a 75 Tuesday, said about becoming state champions. “We knew that one day we were going to come down here, no matter how many years it took until our senior year, and win it.
“I think we all just stepped it up today. We knew being two shots back made us have to come and play because we knew Edgewood was going to stay consistent. Knowing that we played bad (Monday) it really made our mentality go up. Even though we played horrible we were still in contention to be in first. It just feels so good.”
The Eagles received crucial performances from all five players during the two-day event to earn their first title since 1986.
“They played with a lot of resolve today,” Salado coach Bobby Peschel said. “I’ve seen it before when there wasn’t competition. Today I saw it when you had to have it. That’s a lot bigger deal when you’re not under pressure.”
Nobody’s effort was more important than O’Rear, who rallied from a six-stroke deficit with 11 holes to play to repeat. He reeled off five straight birdies during his back-nine charge to shoot 67 and beat Daingerfield’s Jade Scott by three strokes.
“It feels so much better to win it as a team after coming up short the last two years,” said O’Rear, whose squad finished second last year and fourth in 2006. “It just feels great.”
After consistently skying his tee shots Monday, Pines said he went to the driving range before the second round to work out the kinks. His game returned to form as he birdied two holes en route to his 75 to finish tied for 10th.
Hahn struggled to a 43 on his first nine holes and made consecutive bogeys on Nos. 10 and 11 before finding his groove. He reached the par-5 14th in two and two-putted for a birdie to grind out an 82.
“It’s good to know all your hard work has paid off,” said Hahn, who came to Salado after attending junior high school in Temple. “Hours and hours at Mill Creek (Golf Course in Salado) hitting balls, it’s awesome to know you’re actually getting somewhere.”
Baine posted the biggest turnaround. After his father told him his swing looked bad Monday, Baine, listed as Salado’s No. 5 golfer, regrouped from an 88 to shoot a 77.
“My swing was just a lot better and I hit the ball a lot better,” said Baine, who started playing competitively as a sophomore. “Yesterday I didn’t really know what to expect because I didn’t know how good Edgewood or anyone else was going to play. But I knew how good I needed to play today. I was really focused.”
Having done his part with a career-best 82 in the opening round, Little, who had never played golf until he was a freshman, carded a 93 to complete the Eagles’ card.
Meanwhile, Salado’s Lady Eagles shot a 380 Tuesday for a two-day 759 total and a fifth-place finish, 104 strokes behind repeat state champion Wall.
Freshman Taylor O’Rear, younger sister of Ryan O’Rear, overcame a dismal 94 on Monday to shoot a career-best 78 and finish 18th.
“My ball striking was a lot better,” she said. “I didn’t have the shanks today and I had more confidence.”
Sophomore Rachel VanHoozer had a 90, sophomore Haley Kemp shot a 100 and freshman Brennan Boydstun had a 112.
“Our girls are only going to benefit from this experience,” Peschel said. “Today, our boys played really well. I can’t be any more proud of a group of guys than the way they played on the course for two days."
cmeister@temple-telegram.com
