St. James girls golf team wins Lower State, sets sights on state title

It’s a good thing the Sharks were so dominant through 17 holes.

Despite shooting a combined 13 over on the Hackler Course at Coastal Carolina University’s 18th hole, the St. James girls golf team cruised to a 28-stroke win in the Class AAA Lower State tournament Monday.

“Without that hole, we could have played way better,” Sharks coach Denise Noll said. “I think best score on that hole the whole day was a bogey. … That hole just killed us.”

Fortunately for St. James – and the Sharks’ Smith Knaffle – it didn’t matter. Knaffle shot a 73 to earn medalist honors by a stroke despite an 8 on the final hole.

“I really played solidly until that hole,” said Knaffle, who defended her Lower State individual title. “The score doesn’t really reflect how I played.”

St. James finished at 311, 28 strokes ahead of runner-up Hilton Head. Aside from Knaffle, the squad had four others – Kelli Smith (third, 76), Jordan White (fourth, 80), Steely Hays (fifth, 82) and Katie Smith (ninth, 90) – finish in the top 10 for a dominating performance.

“I think the fact that our (Nos.) three and four golfers shot so well,” Noll said of how her team won so handily. “We had three of the top five scores. It’s great to be in that position. Even our fifth player was in the top 10. They were all pretty on point.”

Now, the Sharks will set their sights on bringing home a state title after finishing second a year ago.

The Class AAA tournament will be held next Monday and Tuesday at Barony Golf Club in Hilton Head Island, a course St. James’ players have yet to experience. The Sharks plan to play a practice round Sunday.

The key?

“Just not to think about it and not put pressure on themsleves,” Noll said. “Some of them like it, though. Smith loves the pressure. She’ll go out and make a bogey and then come back with a birdie. It’s tough for a girl to be like that. It’s rare to see that mentality in girls. They just have to be confident in their ability. We have the best team out there.”

Knaffle, who was also part of a St. James squad that finished third two years ago when she was a seventh-grader, believes this is their year.

“It’s kind of our year to win,” she said. “Coming in third two years ago and second last year has really motivated us. We want the win. We want the state rings. It’s been our goal the whole season to get ready for the state championship. Hopefully we can show what we’ve been working hard all year for.”

Including Monday’s event, the Sharks have won the last two tournaments they’ve played in. A little over a week ago they won the Lady Blue Jacket Invitational, and earlier this year the squad won the Lady Patriot Invitational in North Charleston.

“We have really good team chemistry. We’re a big family so that’s been really good,” Knaffle said. “We’ve really come together as team this year. Everybody’s improving. Our No. 2 through 5 – even me as well – we’ve all gotten better.”

Noll said that based on scores she heard coming out of the Upper State that St. James should have a good chance come next week. Knaffle is already crunching the numbers.

“I think that if we shoot what we shot today over the two days we should be good to go for a state championship,” she said.

The fact that the team is so deep takes some of the pressure off Knaffle, Noll said.

“Smith has the backup she needs,” she said. “I tell, her, ‘Everyone else is doing it; you don’t have to worry it. We’re all here today.’ As long as everybody shows up we shouldn’t have any problems.”

Myrtle Beach (387) finished fourth to qualify for the state tournament.

This story was originally published October 19, 2015 at 10:26 PM with the headline "St. James girls golf team wins Lower State, sets sights on state title."