Former Baylor golf coach King Oehmig joked that he's heading into the prayer closet.
But the Episcopal priest is only half-joking about praying for another Baylor girls' state championship.
The Lady Red Raiders will compete for the Division II state championship Tuesday and Wednesday at Willowbrook Golf Club in Manchester.
If they win, they will tie a national record for most consecutive golf state championships.
"It's phenomenal," Oehmig said from a vacation at Kiawah Island. "I've always said that because you have three players and count two scores, versus boys going five and four, it's the easiest championship to win. It's also the easiest to lose. If you get two players who can really play, you've got a good chance of winning."
The Baylor girls have won 15 straight state titles, which is one shy of the record set by the Xavier College Prep girls in Phoenix from 1980 to 1995.
"This is a story to us as well," said John Gillis of the National Federation of State High School Associations.
The Lady Raiders won their first two rings with Ron Cofer as coach. They won 12 under Oehmig, coaching the likes of Elizabeth Hallman, May Wood, Beth Felts and Brooke Pancake. Gary Partrick coached the squad to its 15th championship last year.
"I'm very fortunate to be part of a program that has this kind of tradition," Partrick said. "These girls have done a good job of carrying the banner."
And he's a bit nervous about trying to uphold the tradition, considering only one of the three girls on the 2010 team played in the 2009 state tournament.
"We're going there with a new team," Partrick said as the team practiced at Black Creek Club. "We really have five on the team, and at some point and time this year, each of them has contributed to a victory. We have a competitive group on our team just to make the lineup."
The state championship lineup includes Emily Javadi, Elana Baker and Alyssa Brown with Blakesly Warren as the alternate.
"I'm excited to play in my first one," said Brown, a senior. "I know we'll have stiff competition. I try not to think too much about carrying on the tradition."
The boys' teams from Baylor and McCallie also earned spots in the state tournament.
Other area playoff golf Monday includes the Region 4-A/AA championship at Bear Trace at Harrison Bay, where the winners will advance to state, and the District 5-AAA tournament at Valleybrook, where teams will advance to the regional.