Kofa girls 8th at state; Ford finishes in 10th

The Kofa High girls golf team finished in eighth place and Cera Ford had a top-10 finish in the 5A-II Girls State Golf Championships Monday and Tuesday at Maryvale Golf Course in Phoenix.

The Kings improved six strokes from their Day One total of 396, shooting a 387 on Tuesday for a 783, three stokes behind seventh place Phoenix-Barry Goldwater and 13 strokes shy of a top-five finish.

"I was real lucky to have this group of girls this season," Kofa coach Eric Krepps said. "They worked real hard and listened well, and when you told them what they needed to do they did exactly what you said. That's all I can ask for."

Ford's 87 on Tuesday was a three-shot improvement from her opening-round 90, moving her up four spots in the individual race to 10th. Garcia began the day in sixth place overall at 84, but fell back on Day Two with a 94 to finish one shot behind her teammate in 11th at 178.

"Cera was very consistent both days. Her first nine of the tournament was a 46 and our goal is always to shoot 90 so she knew she had to shoot a 44 and she did," Krepps said.

"Amanda had a couple rough holes at the start that first day but roared back, and today she just struggled."

Kofa's Alyssa Slade tied for 30th with a 197 (100-97) and Amanda Martinez tied for 65th at 231 (122-109). Kofa's No. 3 golfer, Amy Gonzalez, did not participate.

Tempe-Marcos de Niza won the 5A-II Championship with a two-day total 725 (377-348). The school also produced the individual champion in Shelby Martinek, who shot rounds of 73 and 75 to win by an 11-stroke margin.

Gila Ridge finished in 15th place at 963 (482-481). Its top golfer was Torrey Dempsey, who tied for 52nd at 212 (102-110). The Hawks' Chelsea Wallace was tied for 71st place at 242.

Yuma High was 16th overall at 1,076 (574-502) led by Kayla Roberts' 223 in 63rd place. The Criminals' No. 2 golfer was Aubrey Packer in 74th place at 247.