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UIL state golf notebook: Defending 3A champs have six-shot lead over Argyle after first day

AUSTIN — The boys and girls defending Class 3A state champions sit in similar positions — atop the team leaderboard heading into Friday’s final round at the UIL golf state tournament at Jimmy Clay Golf Course.

Paced by junior Grant Bennett’s round of 73, the Prosper boys team shot a 303 and has a six-shot lead over Argyle. The Andrews girls team has a 17-stroke lead after individual leader Sarah Black carded a 76.

Bennett, tied for third place in the individual competition, is two shots behind Henderson’s Kraig Zimmerhanzel and Madisonville’s Marcus Bennett.

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“I kind of struggled getting off the tee today, but I putted great, and that saved me,” said Bennett, whose round included two birdies and 11 pars. “I felt the pressure early on, but as I eased into the round it kind of lifted. This course is a lot narrower off the tee. You have to have better course management here. The goal is to hit more fairways tomorrow.”

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Bennett, who finished fourth last year, made a bogey on the first hole but recovered with a birdie on the second hole to gain back his rhythm. He carded a 38 on the front nine and a nine-hole best 35 on the back nine.

Zach Neely (75), Greg Parker (75), Clifford Freeman (80) and Cameron Bridges (83) followed Bennett for Prosper.

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Argyle, making its first state tournament appearance, was spurred by Blake Lyle’s 75.

“The course played a little tougher today with the wind,” said Lyle, who also battled the greens, which played hard and fast. “The course sets up well. It’s definitely a fair test of golf. We had an all right start today, but we’ve got to work hard tomorrow to climb up to the top.”

Black shot a 39 on the front nine and a 37 to card a 76, one stroke off the 75 she shot on the first day of the tournament last year. Black won a playoff last year to take first place for the girls.

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Lampasas (333) is in second as a team for the girls, followed by Prosper (349). Anne Stiles led Prosper with an 82.