H IGH SCHOOL PR EV I EW
Loaded again Roller, Sides top prep list by scott wright
H
igh school state golf championships are set to be held around Oklahoma in early May, but top junior golfers already have been making names for themselves locally and nationally. Here’s a look at the deep, talented group of young players, with the top-10 girls and boys golfers in the state for the 2022 season: GIRLS Jenni Roller, Sr., Regent Prep A two-time state champion in Class 2A, and moving up to 3A this year, Roller easily could have Jenni Roller been going for her fourth consecutive state championship this spring if not for the COVID-19 cancellation of the 2020 season. She also won the OGA Junior Amateur match play title and the OJGT Tour Championship, while posting a 72.0 stroke average in OJGT events last year. Bound for the University of Tulsa, Roller is on the fringe of the top 200 in the national rankings, according to Junior Golf Scoreboard. Raychel Nelke, Sr., Pocola You could make a strong case for Nelke ahead of Roller as the top girls player in the state. Nelke, who is headed to OU, has a higher Raychel Nelke national ranking according to Junior Golf Scoreboard (130) and AJGA (110), but when they’ve squared off in the state’s top events — in particular, the 2A state tournament and last year’s OGA Junior Amateur — Roller has come out on top. Olivia Coit, Sr., Edmond Memorial A top-300 player on Junior Golf Scoreboard, Coit is headed to Arkansas State. She had the top OJGT stroke average (71.2) Olivia Coit for 2021 among players with at least four rounds played, and fin68
ished third in Class 6A last year, to go with a pair of top-fives in AJGA events. Brooklyn Benn, Sr., Oklahoma Christian School Fired 68-64 at Westwood Park in Norman to post a 10-stroke victory in the 3A state tournament last year, Brooklyn Benn her seventh win of the season. Posted a 74.8 OJGT stroke average and tied for first at the Oklahoma Junior Masters, losing a playoff for the title. She has signed with Wichita State. Beans Factor, Fr., Ada Her real name is Peyton, but you can call her Beans. And you can call her one of Beans Factor the best young golfers in the state. Only a freshman at Ada, she will be a force in 4A for years to come. Peyton Coburn, So., Bishop Kelley Coburn tied for fourth Peyton Coburn in the 5A state tournament as a freshman last year and posted a 75.8 stroke average on the OJGT circuit. Jaiden Gregston, Jr., Duncan Among a talented group of contenders for the 5A tiJaiden Gregston tle after finishing sixth last year, along with a pair of top-16 finishes in AJGA events. Rylee Roberts, So., Edmond North As a freshman, Roberts took seventh in the 6A state tournament. She had an OJGT stroke average of 78.0, Rylee Roberts which included a win in the South Lakes Junior Shootout. Mimi Hoang, Jr., Westmoore Had the eighth-best stroke average on the OJGT circuit last year at 74.9 and a pair of top-25 AJGA finishes. Mimi Hoang
GOLF OKL AHOMA • 2022 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS GIRLS May 1-2 6A: Lincoln Park West, Oklahoma City 5A: Chickasaw Point GC, Durant 4A: Buffalo Rock, Cushing 3A: Lake Murray GC, Plainview 2A: Aqua Canyon. Guthrie BOYS May 5-6 6A: Jimmie Austin OU GC, Norman 5A: Duncan G&TC, Duncan 4A: Boiling Springs GC, Woodward 3A: Lakeview GC, Ardmore 2A: Buffalo Rock, Cushing
Jaci Hartman, So., Turner As a freshman last year, Hartman was the 2A runner-up, seven strokes behind Roller and one stroke ahead of Nelke, while leading Turner to the team title. Others to watch: MaKayJaci Hartman lee Cowan, Jr., Yukon; Gracie Doke, Sr., Jenks; Aubrey House, Sr., McAlester; Mikayla Karanja, Sr., Durant; Lily Stanton, Jr., Jenks. BOYS William Sides, Sr., Cascia Hall A top-50 player in both major national ranking systems (19th in AJGA, 41st in Junior Golf Scoreboard), William Sides Sides was the Class 3A runner-up last spring and has four top-25 finishes in AJGA events, including a tie for second in the prestigious Western Junior last summer. Sides has signed with Southern Methodist. Ryder Cowan, Jr., Oklahoma Christian School Committed to Oklahoma, Cowan is 46th in the AJGA rankings and 74th Ryder Cowan on Junior Golf Scoreboard. Cowan was the Class 3A runner up last year behind current Sooner Drew Goodman. Cowan also has four top-10s and three more top-20s on the AJGA circuit, including a win at the Gateway First Bank Tulsa Junior last August. Ben Stoller, Sr., Owasso Last year’s Class 6A chamBen Stoller pion, Stoller is a top-200 W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG
