Thanks for the times that you’ve given me
The memories are all in mind
And now that we’ve come
To the end of our rainbow
There’s something I must say out loud!
Your one, twice,
Three times a lady….(written by Lionel Ritchie)
The lyrics from the song written by Lionel Ritchie seem appropriate when reflecting upon the continued success of Durant Lady Lions golf with the addition of one more word…CHAMPION.
With their masterful performance while playing their home course, Chickasaw Point Golf Club, the quintet of golfers including 2022 senior Mikaela Karanja, juniors Scarlet Sturch, Riley Samrow and Ella Barbursh plus sophomore Chloe Henderson posted a 37 stroke margin of victory to win the Class 5A girls golf for a third straight time. The gold medal streak covers a four-year stretch including the 2019, 2021 and 2022 seasons with only the impact of the Covid pandemic which cancelled the spring sports calendar in 2021, from a probable four team titles in a row. Karanja, last year’s 5A medalist, finished number two individually and earned All-State honors while Sturch claimed the third place medal.
Durant girls golf was also awarded the Class 5A Academic State Championship for a second straight year posting a team 4.0 grade point average.
Not only did coach Tanner Dupree and Morris Sloan’s team win the state title, but the Lady Lions also finished at the top of the leaderboard in all 10 events this spring, winning team titles at Callisburg TX, Pottsboro TX, Durant, Ardmore, Lone Grove, 5A State Preview, Tecumseh and McAlester tournaments before sweeping the OSSAA regional and state championship events. The junior varsity squad also won three tournaments against varsity competition.
“We find a way to challenge ourselves every time,” said Dupree reflecting on the perfect season. “There’s a great relationship and competition between the girls on the golf course as well as in the classroom. They refuse to accept anything less that their best from each other.”
The Lions will return four of the five state tournament players to the scorecard next season as only Karanja and teammate Rylee Yandell have graduated. The depth of talent and competitive spirit of the Lady Lions golf program tees up a continued future of success as Addison Pettett, Kennedy Lafevers, Ella Samrow, Joslyn Harbin, Kinsley James and Addison Harkey will reunite with Sturch, Riley Samrow, Barbush and Henderson next season.
“The confidence each one of the girls have in themselves and each other was only matched by my confidence in each of them to go out and perform,” said Dupree.
Anyone expecting a four-peat on the course as well as the classroom?
Photo credit: Craig Rennie, CR Pics
