ALL-NWADG GIRLS GOLF

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

LILLY THOMAS

SCHOOL Bentonville

CLASS Senior

THE SCOOP A two-time all-state performer who helped the Lady Tigers win their second consecutive state championship … Was the runner-up in the Class 6A state tournament after she shot a two-day total of a 1-over-par 145, then forced a playoff in the state overall tournament before finishing as the runner-up. … Shot her personal-best 3-under 33 over nine holes the first time she played at Fayetteville Country Club, then followed that with a 5-under 31 at Bella Vista Country Club. … Also shot an 8-under 64 over 18 holes during another match at the Bella Vista Country Club this fall. … Has signed a national letter of intent to play golf at Tulsa.

DID YOU KNOW? Thomas transferred to Bentonville from Heber Springs, where she was also an all-state performer in track and soccer. Although golf takes up a lot of her time in the summer, she has a passion for water sports, especially wake surfing.

QUOTABLE “I played the golf that I wanted to. My scores dropped from last year, and I had more rounds under par, which was a great accomplishment. I had played great going into state and played well at state. I just had a few bad holes, but overall I definitely developed more as a player than the year before.

“If I had to do anything over again, it would be my third shot on No. 9 during the second day of the state tournament. It was a chip shot on a very steep slope down toward the green. I would have hit that shot a little bit harder so it would have not gone into a sand bunker and on the green.”

— Henry Apple • @NWAHenry

Sports on 12/24/2018