The McDonald County High School girls golf team opened last week’s play at the Elk River Golf Course in Noel in a four-team scramble competition.

The Lady Mustangs opened the round with back-to-back-to-back birdies. Junior Reagan Allgood put the team in perfect position off the tee on the opening hole. Juniors Tatym Trudeau and Jaelyn Stipp would alternate shots, securing the opening-hole birdie and a one-shot early lead. Junior Sammi Dowd would hit her drive over the green on par-4 No. 2 hole, leading to another birdie and 2-under after two holes.

Senior Scout Watson chipped in from about 20 yards to open up what seemed to be an insurmountable lead at 3-under par with six holes remaining, but McDonald County could only eke out pars heading into the ninth and deciding hole.

Trailing Seneca by a single stroke, the Lady Mustangs’ best tee shot resided behind a row of trees. It appeared McDonald County might squander its early lead and a shot at another team triumph.

After wayward shots, thing rested with freshman Brooklyn Lilly. Staring down the row of trees and 150 yards away from the green, Lilly laced a low, left-to-right bending 4-iron that would eventually nestle up near the green. Watson would secure the comeback, sinking another birdie putt, moving the Mustangs to 4-under and into a two-way tie with the Indians for first-place honors. Purdy would finish third, a stroke behind at 3-under. East Newton would finish fourth at even par.

“I just hit it. I knew I had to keep it low under the trees,” Lilly said after reflecting on the victory-saving shot.

Individual accolades have also been abundant during this stretch as well. Juniors Allgood and Dowd earned top 20 finishes at Nevada and Cassville, both firing solo 99s. As a team, McDonald County finished eighth out of 16 teams and sixth in a 17-team field.

On Sept. 30, the Mustangs traveled to Joplin’s Schifferdecker Golf Course for a 16-team tournament. Eight of the top 10 finishers would go to golfers from Raymore-Peculiar or Lee Summit West, but the Lady Mustangs played some of their best golf of the season.

Dowd lead the team in scoring, firing a personal best 95 to guide McDonald County to an eighth-place finish.

McDonald County will conclude its regular season at the Big 8 Conference Tournament in Joplin on Oct. 8, then travel to Bolivar Oct. 10 for district play and a shot to compete at the State Tournament.