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Super Soph: Thothong ties for 15th at state golf tournament
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
The Class 5A State Golf Tournament can be a prime stage for elite players to break.
Don't count Plano West sophomore Megan Thothong among that group as she ended Monday and Tuesday's event at Onion Creek Club Golf Course in Austin tied for 15th place despite a second round that wasn't her best.
"What an accomplishment for a sophomore," said Rick Hardison, West head coach. "Megan didn't seem overwhelmed; she's mature beyond her years and showed that this event wasn't too big for her."
"We didn't go into state with a specific number we felt Megan needed to shoot," Hardison said, "we just wanted her to play as well as possible and stay focused. And Megan struck the ball really well on Day 1."
The sophomore was 1-over at the turn and replicated that pace on the back nine, finishing the round with a 2-over par 72 after birdying No. 8, 12 and 17.
"It's just too bad Megan's putter wasn't working as well as she would have wanted," Hardison said. "She had several 5- to 10-foot putts that she burned the edges on. So, Megan left a few strokes out there, but she is always really good at staying positive and kept that same attitude at state."
It was easy for Thothong to stay positive considering she was tied for eighth place after Round 1.
Tuesday's second round would be a bit rougher.
"Part of the problem was, and a lot of people at the tournament were talking about this, the fact the pin placement was tougher on Day 2," Hardison said. "But, that being said, Megan didn't quite have her A game that day and wasn't shooting as clean."
The biggest problem Thothong had was on the back nine. Where she shot two birdies on those nine holes in the first round, there were none to be had this time. Instead, Thothong posted a triple-bogey on No. 10 and bogey on No. 13. That dropped her to a 6-over par 76 for the day.
But, as per usual, the Lady Wolves remained upbeat.
"Megan battled the whole round," Hardison said. "I joked with her afterward that I wish I could have my B game and still shoot a 76."
Thothong's two-day total of 148 put her in a tie for 15th place with El Paso Eastwood's Amber Herrera. Thothong placed fourth among medalists (golfers who are there as individuals without their team). West failed to qualify for state as a team after placing eighth at the Region I Tournament, which was won by Allen.
The Lady Eagles were triumphant at state as well.
"I think that makes us look stronger considering the state champion came from our district and region," Hardison said. "Plus it gives us a clear view of something to shoot for."
Thothong got a better view of that goal this week.
"It's a great opportunity to go and see what the big tournament is about," Hardison said. "And I think Megan is just going to get better and better, so she'll be back."
Thothong wasn't the only Lady Wolf in Austin as sophomore Sara Kim came along.
"I think this opportunity for both the girls will definitely help us in the future," Hardison said. "Except we'd like to bring the whole team next time."
That is a distinct possibility given the construction of the West roster in 2011-12. In addition to Thothong and Kim, the remainder of the Lady Wolves' starters (junior Ally Jones, freshmen Joann Chung and Kaitlyn Fritz) are all scheduled to return next season.
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