SHELBY, Ohio — She was state runner-up as a sophomore and won the state championship as a junior.
So what can Shelby’s Alexis Jones possibly do for an encore?
It ought to be fun to find out.
A junior, Jones completed her journey to the top of the state podium last month at The Ohio State University Golf Club’s Gray Course, shooting a two-day total of 152 for a one-stroke victory over Cortland Lakeview’s Kaylie Neumeister. Jones erased a four-shot deficit on the final day, carding a 74 after opening with a 78.
“It feels a lot better winning by one stroke than losing by one,” Jones, the two-time Richland Source Golfer of the Year, said at the time. “This was kind of my year.”
As a sophomore, Jones was medalist runner-up. She shot a 142 — 10 strokes better than her 2015 finish — only to finish one shot behind LaBrae’s Haylee Harford.
Jones sat out the entire summer season while nursing a nerve injury. She returned in time for her junior season and was even more focused.
“The break did her some good mentally,” Shelby girls coach Brad Ruminski said earlier in the season. “She has always been a very focused player, but (the layoff) really got her competitive juices flowing.”
Jones won a sectional title with a 74 at Valley View and carded a 75 to win the district at Sycamore Springs. She was tied for fourth after the opening round of the state tournament.
“It’s a lot different when you’re in the lead and you’re trying to maintain it rather than, ‘OK, I can attack,’ ” Jones said after her final round. “I like to know where I am and what I need to do score-wise.
“Win, lose or draw, I wanted to do my best.”
Jones was joined on the All-Richland Source team by teammate Claire Korbas, Lexington’s Abby Conover and Courtney Thompson and Mansfield Senior’s Morgan Adkins.
A sophomore, Korbas was the area’s most pleasant surprise. She joined Jones at the state tournament, tying for 23rd in the 72-player field with a two-day total of 176. She shot an 83 at the sectional and an 80 at the district.
Both Conover and Thompson were holdovers from Lexington’s state-qualifying 2014 team. Conover was an Ohio Cardinal Conference first team selection while Thompson was a second-teamer. Conover advanced to the district tournament as an individual.
Like Conover, Mansfield Senior’s Adkins was an OCC first-team pick. She carded a 94 at the sectional tournament to qualify for the district, where she shot a 101.
