Roller, Benn to resume long rivalry with more at stake

Complete results of all flights

By Clemente Almanza

When Jenni Roller and Brooklyn Benn meet in the final of the Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association State Amateur Championship Thursday morning at Indian Springs Country Club in Broken Arrow, it will be the resumption of a rivalry that dates back to when they were 8 years old.

From U.S. Kids Golf through the Oklahoma Junior Golf Tour, WOGA events and the OGA Junior Amateur and on to American Conference championships in college, Roller and Benn know each other’s games and personalities very well. Both have knocked the other out of significant events in match play in the past and one of them will do the same on Thursday.

It won’t affect their friendship, but the stakes are heightened by the two major prizes on the line. First to put their name forever on the state championship trophy. Second, the automatic berth that goes to the winner for the upcoming U.S. Women’s Amateur Aug. 4-10 at Bandon Dunes in Bandon, Ore.

“I’ve always wanted to play in the Women’s Amateur and with it being at Bandon Dunes that would be a dream trip,” said Roller, the Jenks native entering her senior season at the University of Tulsa. Benn, the Edmond native who will be a senior at Wichita State, would equally appreciate the opportunity.

Both had to grind through two touch matches Wednesday to reach the championship Benn outlasted Peyton Coburn of Tulsa in 21 holes in the quarterfinals, then knocked off top seed Lisa Herman of Tulsa 1 up in the semifinals.

Roller won her match with Olivia Coit in the morning 1 up on the 19^th hole when Coit bogeyed the par-5 first hole. She then notched a 3 and 1 victory over Layne Alshie of Fort Gibson in her semifinal match.

Roller and Ailshie went back and forth on the front nine and were even at the turn. The competitors enjoyed cups of ice to cool down from the brutal sunshine and humidity. Roller took control midway through the back nine and won it when Ailshie’s par putt came up short on the par-3 16^th hole.

“I’m feeling good,” Roller said. “It’s been a lot of golf. I haven’t played 36 in a while, since college tournaments in the spring.  I think endurance-wise, it’ll be good for me to play more. Putting wasn’t very great today, so I need to work on that. But overall, I was able to get it done. So I’m happy with that.”

Despite an earlier start time, the other semifinal matchup took a little longer to complete. Herman and Benn went the distance and played out all 18 holes. After playing an exhaustive 21 holes in the quarterfinals, Benn did just enough to escape with an upset win. The No. 13 seed continues her hot streak.

“Today was a long day for me. 21 holes in the first match and 18 in the second. So playing my matches to the fullest, but I’m feeling good. I’m excited for tomorrow,” Benn said. “I played really well. Hit the ball good. Made some crucial putts, made very few bogeys, which always helps. Couple of birdies in the right time. That’s what you got to do in match play.”