Memphis area golfers shine at state tournament

MANCHESTER, Tenn. – Rachel Heck reminded herself the first round didn't matter.

Victoria England pretended like she was trailing.

Drew Miller relied on the camaraderie of his team.

Whatever works, just as long as the trophy comes home to Memphis.

Heck, the St. Agnes sophomore, repeated as Division II-AA state champion at a wet WillowBrook golf course. After an even-par opener, the Stanford commit birdied five of her final nine holes to finish at 66 and win by 11 strokes.

After winning by 10 last year and finishing as the low amateur in this year's U.S. Open, Heck acknowledged that the expectations are on her to go out and score low each and every time.

"I didn't play exactly how I wanted to," she said of her first round. "I was talking to my (swing) coach (Rob Akins) and he just told me just forget about the expectations of people. 

"I feel like a lot of people are expecting my to go low but my coaches just told me, 'Forget about that. That doesn't matter. Play your own game.' I played well (Monday) but I just wasn't making any putts. But I putted for two or three hours after the round and my putting was a lot better."

Hutchison senior Susan Morris wrapped up her career with a second-place finish, 11 strokes back.

While Heck was solid as usual, the Stars wouldn't have won their fourth consecutive team title without a big day from Ellie Navarre. After carding an 83 on Monday, the sophomore broke 80 for the first time in a major tournament, finishing at 77.

"I brought her here last year to observe," said coach Cynthia Giannini. "She was a junior varsity player. She shot 83 with some putting issues here and there ... so this morning I said, pick a number.

"And she said, 'Below 80.' I said, do it. Isn't that cool? She's just a grinder, a fighter."

England, a junior at St. George's, used a little psychology on herself in order to bring home the second DII-A championship of her career. After shooting 2-under 70 to lead by four after the first round, she poured it on and finished with a 68 to defeat Tzunami Polito of Franklin Road Academy by 11 strokes.

"I knew Tzunami was four back so this morning I started telling myself that I was four back," said England, who won as an eighth-grader. "It's stressful (to play the final round with a lead). Not like it's embarrassing, but it would be kind of sad if you lost.

"I just felt really focused. My shots on (the green) were closer than they had been and my putting was much better than usual."

Margaret Porter of ECS went from 87 to a career-low 74 to finish tied for fourth.

In DII-AA boys, Miller broke free from a three-way tie after the first round with an even-par 72 to finish at 4-under. He was two strokes better than Eli Maxwell of CBHS and is the first individual golf champ in Saints history.

"I've been in some situations like this before," Miller said. "My team really helped me. We went to dinner, then we went to Walmart, then watched a movie. It was Will Ferrell; I don't remember which one."

"I was really consistent off the tee and only made one double-bogey the whole tournament," he said. "That was really the only huge mistake I made throughout the tournament."

Miller's Saints and Brentwood Academy tied for second in the team race, two strokes behind MUS. The Owls — who were in fourth place after the first round — won for the second year in a row and 11th time in school history.

"I'm the only senior so it's really fun going back to back," said Wyatt Berry. "They're all so motivated and energetic. They're all so crazy. It's a really great group of guys."

The craziest thing they did at the tournament?

"Make birdies," Berry laughed.

Division II-A boys was the only classification without a Shelby County winner. A. Jacks Green of of Christ Presbyterian Academy shot a final-round 66 to deny Winston Margaritis of St. George's back-to-back titles. The senior finished five strokes back at 138.

Margaritis' teammate Davis Irving finished third at even par as the Gryphons placed second to Christ Academy of Knoxville in the team competition. 

Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas