St. Tammany News

Mandeville High senior Raquel Bussard ended her high-school golf career with a 3-over-par 75 Tuesday during the second and final round of the Division I state tournament at Copper Mill in Zachary.

That was a high note, especially after hitting a disappointing 82 during the first round Monday.

The Mandeville High girls' golf team, pictured here, placed third at Division state golf tournament Tuesday in Zachary. From left: Mary-Lee Holmes, Raquel Bussard, Julia Saari, Stephanie Howard and coach Jody Walker. (Photo courtesy of Maggie Saari)

"The first day was pretty upsetting. I wanted to do better. Every senior wants to win a state title," said Bussard, who finished with a total score of 157.

But the second-day performance helped her to a fourth-place individual finish and secured Mandeville a third-place finish in the team standings with 338.

"We did real well," said first-year coach Jody Walker. "I was very proud of our girls."

Walker said a team effort led to the third-place finish.

"The other team members, Julia Saari, Stephanie Howard, Mary-Lee Holmes - they all picked up the slack. Julia shot her career round of 85 the first day."

Mount Carmel won the event with a score of 295, followed by St. Joseph's (320). Fontainebleau (397) placed eighth.

Mount Carmel's Mallory Fraiche led the field, shooting a 69 the second day for a total score of 146. Her teammate, Nicole Crochet (149) was second, followed by St. Joseph's Kirby Baker (152).

Walker said it might have been easy for Bussard to give up after the disappointing first round, but she didn't.

"She came out and played strong the second day," he said. "She did a phenomenal job."

Bussard said fourth place was the best she's finished at state in the past three years, and she'll miss the high school competition.

"It's sad that it's over," Bussard said, adding she wants to play golf in college.

Saari finished the tournament in 14th place with a score of 181.

Howard scored a 187, and Holmes finished 191. Both Howard and Holmes were in the top 25.

Fontainebleau's Kristen Hartzog finished with a 192, followed by teammate Jill Exley with a score of 205. Slidell's Kelly Trainor rounded out golfers from St. Tammany Parish. She finished in with a score of 208.

The boys Division I state tournament is still a few weeks ahead, scheduled for the first week of May at Olde Oaks in Haughton.

(Sports Editor Mike Pervel contributed to this report.)