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53 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, May 11, 2005 Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery | Contact Us SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 11, 2005 Ashland�s Stephanie Johns tries to use a little body English to get a putt from the fringe to fall during Tuesday�s final round of the SOC girls golf district tournament. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Steady Johns claims crown By KEVIN GOFF Mail Tribune GRANTS PASS — Stephanie Johns didn’t have time to think about another second-day collapse. With Grants Pass’ Justine Hix and Ashland teammate Elaina Graham nipping at her heals, Johns remained steady this time to claim her second Southern Oregon Conference girls golf district title at the rain-soaked Grants Pass Golf Club Tuesday. Johns, who fell to second place last year as a junior despite holding a four-stroke lead entering the final day, shot a 3-over-par 76 to finish with a two-day total of 151. Hix and Graham were each one stroke back at 152. "I didn’t really get nervous," said Johns of Hix and Graham inching closer to her lead. "I just tried to stay consistent and not make any big mistakes." Advertisement Ashland won its second straight SOC crown by a comfortable margin with a 665. North Medford was second at 715. The top two teams and top five individuals advance to the Class 4A state tournament next Monday and Tuesday at Trysting Tree Golf Course in Corvallis. Ashland’s Stephanie Graham finished fourth with a 156 and North’s Kacie Kinney took fifth with a 165. Hix, a junior, trailed by three strokes entering Tuesday but caught up after the front nine with a 2-under 35. She and Graham each finished with a 152. "I knew we were even after nine," said Johns, a senior who last won the SOC crown as a sophomore. "I figured if I kept playing solid it’d be a close race. "I was playing with two of the best possible people. We had such a good time." Hix, who will play in her third consecutive state tournament, shot out to a 3-under start after birdying the first three holes to climb even with Johns. The two kept it close until Johns snagged a one-stroke advantage on the par-3 17th when Hix’s par putt from about 10 feet fell just short. Johns tapped in for par and Hix had to settle for a bogey. "I didn’t really have any bad shots," said Hix. "I was putting well on the front, but obviously I left that one short." Johns nearly gave back the brief lead on the par-5, 444-yard 18th. Her tee shot sailed right and barely missed caroming off a set of trees. Johns used a free drop and hit out of danger to salvage the hole. "I didn’t even know how close it was," laughed Johns. "I had no time to worry about it. I figured I just had to deal with my next shot." Hix’s putt to even the match from about 12 feet stopped short on the slight incline, leaving Johns with an easy tap-in to seal the match. Much like the regular season, Ashland’s top three were a model of consistency. Johns and the Graham sisters shot in the 70s both days and Ashland’s No. 4 golfer, Lauren Dow, broke 100. "Our top three have to be in the 70s and our No. 4 has to break 100 for us," said Grizzlies’ coach Stephanie Santos. "That’s the difference at state right there. "I feel like we’re peaking at the right time." North Medford also had peak performances from its four counters. Snow Powers took seventh with a 174, Christina Thompson was eighth with a 183 and Sheena Knight was 12th with a 193. The Black Tornado and Ashland were the only squads to have four competitors each shoot under 100 on Tuesday. "It wasn’t just one girl for us," said North coach Tim Sam, whose team last qualified for state two years ago as the regular season champs. "It was all four counters. They shot as solid as they have all year." Kinney was at the head of North’s runner-up finish. The senior was 1-over through 14 on Monday but trailed off over the final 22 holes. "I started off well and then wasn’t playing up to my potential," said Kinney, who’s now qualified for state three times despite sitting out last season with an injury. "I couldn’t get it back." "We’re all really excited," Kinney added of her team’s performance. "We’ve worked so hard to get here." Grants Pass (772), which was neck and neck with the Tornado for second in the regular season, finished a distant third. Roseburg was fourth with an 823. Anna Wiley shot a ninth-best 185 to lead South Medford to fifth place with an 853. SEASON STANDINGS — Ashland 2,491, North Medford 2,588, Grants Pass 2,795, Roseburg 2,862, South Medford 3,066, Crater, inc. TEAM SCORES — 1, Ashland, 338-327—665; 2, North Medford, 353-362—715; 3, Grants Pass, 387-385—772; 4, Roseburg, 406-417—823; 5, South Medford, 424- 429—853; 6, Crater, inc. TOP 10 FINISHERS — 1, Stephanie Johns, Ash, 75-76—151; 2, (tie) Justine Hix, GP, 78-74—152, Elaina Graham, Ash, 77-75—152; 4, Stephanie Graham, Ash, 79- 77—156; 5, Kacie Kinney, NM, 80-85—165; 6, Anna Palotai, Ros, 86-87—173; 7, Snow Powers, NM, 86-88—174; 8, Christina Thompson, NM, 88-95—183; 9, Anna Wiley, SM, 91-94—185; 10, TC Rahn, Ros, 92-94—186. ASHLAND (327) — Elaina Graham 38-37—75, Stephanie Johns 38-38—76, Stephanie Graham 39-38—77, Lauren Dow 48-51—99. NORTH MEDFORD (362) — Kacie Kinney 43-42—85, Snow Powers 43-45—88, Sheena Knight 46-48—94, Christina Thompson 46-49—95. GRANTS PASS (385) — Justine Hix 35-39—74, Hannah Shorter 46-49—95, Jill Croucher 52-54—106, Ashley Bolan 53-57—110. ROSEBURG (417) — Anna Palotai 42-45—87, TC Rahn 45-49—94, Kayla Stratton 54-61—115, Robin Fischer 63-58—121. SOUTH MEDFORD (429) — Anna Wiley 47-47—94, Hannah Barr 48-50—98, Calley Duvall 55-59—114, Lauren Cox 58-65—123. CRATER (580) — Shasta Helms 64-63—127, Robin Enloe 64-67—131, Sarah Monson 79-78—157, Jessica Peabody 79-86—165. Reach reporter Kevin Goff at 776-4483 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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