By Glen Miller/Sports Editor

El Reno High School’s girls golf team rolled out the red carpet last week for the Class 5A West Regional Golf Championship and then tripped on it before regaining its feet and a state berth.

Playing on their home course, Crimson Creek Golf Club, the Indians carded a team total of 352 — 24 strokes over its season best.

Still, El Reno managed a second-place finish in the team race, with the top six squads from the regional tourney earning a pass to this week’s 5A state championships.

“I think we played relaxed at Guthrie and Trosper and we played well,” El Reno head coach Lanae Goucher said.

“But we came out on our home course and we tried to hard and we couldn’t do it.”

El Reno was seeking its first regional crown, but that honor went to archrival Duncan with a team total of 327. Altus was third with a 362, followed by Harrah (370), Lawton MacArthur (381) and Chickasha (382) as the other state qualifiers.

“In the past we have never had a chance to beat Duncan,” Goucher said.

“But we shot a 328 to win the conference title, so I know we can hang with them. But we also know we will have to play our best.”

El Reno is making its seventh straight trip to the 5A state tourney, with its best finish being fifth place under former head coach Matt Goucher – who turned over the EHS reigns to his wife four years ago. That fifth-place finish, however, could fall this year the Indians enter state with the third-best qualifying round. Tulsa Kelley won the East regional with a 321.

Coweta and Claremore were second and third in that same regional, but shot scores of 367 and 402, respectively.

“I am confident the girls will get to state and play relaxed so they can play their own game and we can be in the running,” Goucher said. “Yes we wanted that regional title, but I’ll trade that regional trophy for one this week.”

Sophomore Leilani Gradle led El Reno’s regional effort with a round of 80, which earned her fourth place in the individual medalist race. Altus’ Priscilla Reyes took that title with a round of 73, winning a playoff over Duncan’s Jillian Gregston.

El Reno sophomore Madison Haley carded an 87, which was matched by teammate Victoria Farmer – which was her season-low round.

“We didn’t play as well as we would have liked as a team, but Victoria really pulled through for us with her low round of the season,” Goucher said. “The girls tried to hard. They put too much pressure on themselves to win at home and in golf that doesn’t work to well.”

Junior Andrea Dyer struggled to a 98, while Ashlee Brittain carded a 102.

The state championship gets under way Wednesday on the Lakeview Golf Course in Ardmore, the same course the EHS boys will play Monday for their regional tourney. The El Reno girls tee off at 10 a.m. on the first hole and will be playing with Chickasha and TSST.