Blonien, Roller, Nelke take home state titles

Complete High School Results here:

Class 5A

Natalie Blonien of Altus closed with a 72 to edge defending champion Mikaela Karanja of Durant by a single shot to win the Class 5A girls state championship at Chickasaw Pointe in Kingston.

Blonien, who opened with a 73, shot 145, while Karanja (72-74) came in at 146. Scarlet Sturch of Durant was another shot back at 147 (74-73) while Aubrey House of McAlester took fourth at 149 (71-78).

Karanja and Sturch did lead Durant to the team title by 37 strokes over Bishop Kelley. Carl Albert was third and Duncan fourth.

Class 3A

Jenni Roller of  Regent Prep concluded her high school career with a solid round of even-par 72 for an 18-shot victory in the Class 3A Girls State Championship at Lake Murray State Park Golf Course near Ardmore.

Roller, who shot a record 10-under 62 in the opening round, faced tougher conditions in round two with 20 mph winds but cruised to victory. Brooklyn Benn finished second, shooting 72-80 and helping lead Oklahoma Christian School to the team title, winning by five shots over Marlow, 731 to 736. Lincoln Christian was third at 783.

Gabby Hack of Marlow was third individually, shooting 78-83 to finish at 161, a shot ahead of Alex Peters of Oklahoma Christian (80-82).

Allie Lathrop of Heritage Hall made a hole-in-one on the par-3 seventh hole from 100 yards out (see video).

Allie Lathrop of Heritage Hall made a hole-in-one on the par-3 seventh hole from 100 yards out.

Roller, who won the Class 2A state championship in 2019 and 2021 and will play next year for the University of Tulsa, had the entire state buzzing Wednesday with her 10-under round of 62, believed to be the lowest round shot by a female in any state golf championship in Oklahoma history. She made eight birdies and an eagle with no bogeys.

Holland Hall coach Matt Campbell, who was watching one of his players in Roller’s group, called it “a near perfect round of golf. It was a 59 watch. Unreal.”

Class 2A

Raychel Nelke of Pocola followed up her opening 68 with a 78, good for a four-shot victory over Jaci Hartman of Turner (74-76) in the Class 2A state tournament at the Aqua Canyon course at Cimarron National in Guthrie.

Hartman and Josey Cavitt, who finished third at 155 (73-82), led Turner in a romp to the team title. Turner finished at 679, while Christian Heritage shot 787 and Mooreland 788.