Baylor coach Gary Partrick is a bit nervous.
McCallie coach Tony Meyers is ecstatic after the first round of the Division II state golf tournament Tuesday at Willowbrook Golf Club in Manchester.
Baylor’s Lady Raiders, attempting to tie the national record of 16 straight high school golf state championships, shot a 10-over-par 154 and lead second-place Ensworth by three shots going into the final round.
“They played like it was the first time they’d been here, and it really is,” Partrick said via cell phone. “We played tight and we’re fortunate to get the scores we got.”
McCallie’s 3-over 291 leads the boys’ tournament by 11 shots over second-place Baylor. Blue Tornado senior Patrick Clossin shot a 4-under 68 and leads the individual race by a shot over Baylor’s Josh Gregorich.
“When our No. 5 guy [Case White] came in with a 71, I was like, ‘Wow, we might be in the middle of this,'” Meyers said. “We talked before about keeping the ball in play and hitting greens, but it’s another thing to execute it. We did.”
The Lady Raiders were led by a 76 from Elena Baker and Emily Javadi’s 78. Mary Virginia Portera of St. Agnes leads the medalist race with a 72.
“We like being in the lead and we’re fortunate to be there,” Partrick said. “It’s a new experience for these girls being here. I think we handled that after a shaky start. Two of the three shot 40 on the front.”
The Baylor girls are shooting for the national record set by Phoenix Xavier Prep from 1980 to ’95.
“I’d like to throw 75, 75 up there and see what happens,” Partrick said. “We have to play a little bit better.”
Partrick would like his boys’ team to play a little better, too. The Red Raiders shot a 302 with three triple bogeys and a quad counting in the scores.
“We’re going to free-swing it tomorrow and try to go low,” Partrick said. “I don’t think McCallie will come back to us, so we’ll have to go get them.”
Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6484. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/UchSports