Senior Jennie Park will compete May 13-14 at the UIL State Golf Tournament at Legacy Hills Golf Club in Georgetown. The boys golf team advanced as well, and will play May 20-21 at the same course.

“It’s a lot more pressure, but at the same time we have more fun with it because it’s the highest level we can get to,” Park said. “We worked to get there.”

It is Park’s fourth time advancing to state. Along with school tournaments, she competes at personal golf tournaments as well; this helps improve her skills and allows her to judge who she is competing against.

“At state, I see players that I normally see at my personal tournaments and they’re definitely high up there,” Park said. “I should know what to expect at state.”

The boys team advanced as a team for the first time since 2004 after a first place win at regionals.

“It’s also my senior year, so [advancing] makes it even more special,” senior Derek Hamilton said.

The UIL State Tournament is a hot spot for college recruiters looking to add to their golf teams. Head coach Terie Campbell said she knows the colleges are always looking for new recruits.

“There’s college recruiters going after every group,” Campbell said.  “They’ll be wearing TCU, OU, UCLA, so you know they’re a college coach or an assistant coach watching you.”

With the upcoming tournament, Park and the boys team are practicing longer and harder, but Campbell said she is not worried about their drive.

“They’re pretty self-motivated —trying to break records, trying to do something that hasn’t been done,” Campbell said. “They want to create a legacy for themselves. A lot of my kids want to play college golf. I have a couple that want to go pro and I really think they can.”