Allard paces Monache

SPRINGVILLE — If there was any doubt as to how impressive Monache’s Kristen Allard really is on the golf course, Tuesday’s match with cross-town rival Porterville at River Island Country Club should have turned the disbelief into pure awe.

Even with a cold weighing down on her, Allard shot an even par 38 on the front nine holes and carried the Marauders to a 235-301 win over PHS.

“As an avid golfer myself, to watch Kristen hit the ball, it’s just amazing. As a girls golf coach, it’s out of this world,” Monache coach Jake Winter said. “Her work ethic, her ability and her commitment is just unrivaled by anything I’ve ever seen in high school sports.”

With many accurate shots, the MHS senior collected birdies on holes No. 1, 2 and 6. On the par-3 seventh, Allard lifted the ball onto the green and nearly had herself a hole in one, watching her shot trickle just to the right of the cup.

“I had a few off holes, but the birdies helped bring it back,” said Allard, who is verbally committed to Washington State University. “A couple other holes should have been birdied or parred, it’s just the weird circumstances out here.”

Allard’s teammate, Kalyn Reed, shot a 44 to card MHS’s second lowest score of the day. On the final hole, Reed saved par when she rolled a 20-yard pitch shot from the fringe into the hole.

“It’s our best score of the season so far,” Winter said. “Our goal is a 450 for 18 holes at the end of the year and 225 at home is going to get that. A 235 is getting close.”

Although Porterville came up more than a few shots short of the Marauders overall score, PHS wasn’t without a low scorer.

Suzy Napieralski, a freshman, shot a 38 with an eagle on No. 3, two pars and a birdie.

“Suzy had an awesome match. Shooting anything within two of par is just great, especially being a freshman,” PHS coach David Herrera said. “She’s coming out here and playing with some of the top girls in the league.”

Napieralski, who had many booming shots from the tee, said she was pleased with her overall play.

“I was putting better,” she said. “My driving was a lot better than last week and my approach shots were pretty good.”

For Porterville, Dedra Devine carded a 62; Karen Ross finished with a 64; Elvira Ceballos shot a 66; Witney Rodriguez finished with a 71; Ana Torres carded a 75.

“The other girls are improving. They’re getting better,” Herrera said. “It just takes time and practice with this sport. We’re going to practice a lot, keep plugging away and get lower scores.”

For Monache, Stacey Yamaguchi finished with a 46; Sylvia Crandell carded a 54; Lucy Mendez shot a 55; Daley Roche finished with a 69.

Monache will take on Granite Hills at Porterville Municipal Golf Course Thursday at 4:30 p.m. in an East Yosemite League match.

The Panthers will travel to take on Tulare Western on Thursday, a team that gave MHS its only loss in East Yosemite League play this year.

“They have a complete team. They don’t have one golfer that isn’t right there with the top shooters in the league,” Herrera said. “It’s going to be a tough one.”