FARMINGTON — Lily Seydel certainly will enjoy her 16th birthday present for a long time.
The St. Dominic High sophomore was given a 2017 Toyota Corolla by her parents to honor the landmark Monday.
“Pretty cool,†Seydel said of the car.
Yet the automobile pales in comparison to the other gift.
Seydel shaved 14 shots off her opening round score to help the Crusaders to the first girls golf team state championship in school history.
St. Dominic carded a two-day, four-player score of 650 to run away with the team crown during the final round Tuesday at Crown Pointe Golf Club.
Westminster finished second with a 692. Summit was third at 713.
Crusaders junior Annabelle Bush led the attack with a 156, good enough for 13th place overall. Sophomore Isabella Daniel was right behind in 14th with a 158.
And Seydel’s ability to post a 75 in Tuesday’s second round after an 89 on opening day highlighted the championship effort.
She is quick to rank the state championship ahead of the car as the highlight of her week.
“Probably the state title because I’ll have it my entire life,†Seydel said.
Seydel (164) used a pair of nifty iron shots during her bounce-back round. Twice she plunked the flag with a chip shot.
“It was a lot better than (Monday),†Seydel said.
St. Dominic freshman Sophia Bedzek fired a 172 and Caitlyn Kennedy chipped in with an 186.
The Crusaders essentially won the tournament on the first day by firing a 332 to carry a 17-shot advantage into the final 18 holes. They shaved 14 shots off that score Tuesday to run away with the crown.
“This is insane,†Bush said. “I really knew that our chances were pretty high coming into this. Everyone played their best game. I’m so excited to be first.â€
The players gathered at a local steakhouse Monday night to celebrate Seydel’s birthday. The enjoyment of the affair helped the group chill out.
A more relaxed team took to the course Tuesday, thanks in part to the frivolity from the day before.
“We all kind of calmed down, had a good time and really didn’t think about (golf),†Daniel said. “The pressure was definitely off.â€
St. Dominic lost two key pieces from last year’s team, which finished fourth at the state tournament. Seydel said the girls were apprehensive coming into the season.
“(We were) going into it thinking we’d get fourth again,†Seydel said.
Super Emree
Nevada junior Emree Cameron stole the individual race with a record setting 10-under 134.
She carded identical 67s to record the best two-day round in the history of Missouri high school girls golf.
Her eye-popping score eclipsed the old mark of 5 under set by Reagan Zibilski of Springfield Catholic in 2020 and 2021.
Cameron also set the course record for a female, according to Dustin Hoehn, the director of golf at the St. Francois County track, which opened in 1993.
“I was just hitting the greens and making my putts,†Cameron said. “I felt pretty good both days.â€
Cameron already has given a verbal commitment to attend the University of Louisville. She capped off the sizzling effort by sinking a 29-foot putt on the 18th hole.
Brown finishes second again
Mehlville sophomore Eva Brown claimed the runner-up spot for the second year in a row. She fired a 3-under total of 141, seven shots behind Cameron.
“Whenever I put pressure on her, she just wasn’t choking,†Brown said of Cameron. The two were in the final foursome on the last day.
Many times, Brown’s 3 under would be good enough to claim medalist honors.
Cameron was simply unstoppable.
Brown shot a 68 on Tuesday, chopping five shots off her opening-round score.
“The first day I was definitely off, my driving was a little wild off the tee,†Brown said.
Secrest closes career in style
Parkway West senior Kylie Secrest finished in a tie for fourth place with a 144. She opened play with a career-best 68 before shooting a 76 on Tuesday.
Secrest was making her fourth state tournament appearance.
“My short game wasn’t as great today,†Secrest said. “I think I got a little frustrated with myself.â€
Rogers puts North Point on golf map
North Point senior Grace Rogers fired a 152 to finish in a tie for eighth.
Rogers was making her third state tournament appearance and is the only girl to ever qualify for state from the newest Wentzville school.
“I just tried to stay relaxed the whole time,†said Rogers, who will continue her career at Park University in Kansas City. “Wanted to have a good time and not be stressed about it.â€
Rogers made 10 successive pars Tuesday on the way to a 73, six strokes better than her opening round score.
Missouri Class 3 girls golf state championship, final round
This year's high school football season has seen some surprises. The new podcast also delves into Illinois teams that need wins, a brand-new s…
St. Dominic sophomore Lily Seydel and teammates celebrate with the Class 3 girls golf state championship team trophy after the final round Tuesday at Crown Pointe Golf Club in Farmington, Mo. Paul Halfacre, Post-Dispatch
Mehlville sophomore Evangelina Brown (left) and Parkway West senior Kylie Secrest joke on the green during the second day of the Class 3 girls golf tournament on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at Crown Pointe Golf Club in Farmington, Mo. Paul Halfacre, Post-Dispatch
Nevada junior Emree Cameron embraces a teammate after the second day of the Class 3 girls golf tournament on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at Crown Pointe Golf Club in Farmington, Mo. Paul Halfacre, Post-Dispatch