For some schools, it might take years to build a strong program and become the team to beat at the state level.
For the Compass Academy girls golf team, it has only taken three years.
Next week, the Lady Cougars will be competing at the UIL Girls Class 3A state championships where they enter as one of the favorites after having won the Region I title last month.
The two-day tournament will take place May 15-16 at the Jimmy Clay Golf Course in Austin.
“The players are extremely excited,” Compass Academy head coach Jennifer Lopez said. “We’re going into state with a district champ title and a regional champ title. We’ve done the district title three years in a row but we’ve never been regional champions until this year. They’re not going in overconfident but they’re going in, knowing that what they’ve been working on all year long is now paying off. They’re going in with renewed focus and renewed energy to really go out and play some good golf.”
In the short history of Compass Academy athletics, the Lady Cougars’ golf team has hit the ground running, qualifying for the state championship in each of the last three years since the program started playing at the varsity level.
Not only have they qualified as a team, they’ve also placed in the top four.
In 2021, the Lady Cougars finished fourth with a total score of 790, just four strokes short of a top three finish.
Last year, Compass Academy came home with hardware, placing second at 709.
The school that won that last two state championships? That was Wall, a team that will once again be a contender this year in which the Lady Cougars ended up defeating at regionals last month in Baird.
Compass Academy won regionals with a score of 337-312—649 while Wall took second 345-316—661.
“It’s going to be a close one,” Lopez said. “Wall’s our biggest competitor. It was pretty close at regionals so they’re definitely going to give us a run for our money but we have a practice plan in place. We’ve been working our short game and key points on the golf course. Jimmy clay is the course we’re going to be at in Austin so we have that scorecard and then backing out the course and getting ready for whatever comes our way those two days.”
Lopez has no doubt that her team can take the next step and bring home a state title.
“There is no doubt in my mind that these girls have practiced, played and sacrificed their best.” Lopez said. “That in itself is winning at the end of the day, may we prevail.”
Junior Jordan Cruz led the Lady Cougars’ scoring at regionals, finishing fifth overall at 77-79—156.
“It was special,” Cruz said of the regional title. “I walked in knowing we could win but it was more fun just to win it, finally, and add another trophy to the case.”
She and her teammates are eager to return to Jimmy Clay, a course they’re not strangers to anymore.
“We’ve been there twice and we know what to expect but we know we have the pressure of being able to win it,” Cruz said. “We’re excited and we’re ready for it.”
Senior Allie Scott, who finished in a tie for seventh place at regionals with 88-76—164, will be golfing in her last state championship.
“We’re very excited,” Scott said. “It’s our third year going. We’re just hoping to do our best and not leaving anything behind.”
Placing in the top 10 at regionals as an individual was Hannah Lopez, finishing 87-78—165, while Aubrey Stone was 12th (89-79—168).
Like the rest of her teammates, Stone-who is also a senior- reflected on how far she and her teammates have come in a short amount of time and hopes to go out with a bang.
“It’s great that we’ve been able to do so much for our school in a little amount of time,” Stone said. “Being seniors this year, it means a lot to be able to leave a successful program behind.”
As coach Lopez reflects on what all her team has accomplished in a short amount of time, she says it has taken not only talent but a lot of willpower and work from her girls to make it all happen.
“It means that sometimes, people think that if you win one time, you’re lucky,” Lopez said. “But if you win a second and third time, then it’s a lot of talent. Talent is what it takes but it’s a lot of grit and a lot of perseverance and a lot of determination. That’s what these girls have.”
While the Lady Cougars are hoping to come home with a state title, they also know that in golf, a lot can change and quickly.
“Anything can happen on any given day,” Stone said. “We’ve worked as hard as we can so matter what we do, I’m proud of us and anything we can accomplish.”
Scott knows they still have two rounds of golf to play.
“We’re just hoping to do our best out there and whatever happens will happen,” Scott said.
