MUSCLE SHOALS, AL

This time last year, Central-Phenix City 's Haley Wilson went to the girls Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 6A State Championship by herself. The school didn't have a girls golf team.

Last year, Lena Lemieux and Alex Harrell were in sixth grade. Tuesday, May 13, 2008, Wilson, Lemieux and Harrell teamed up as Central's first girls golf team -- and they won it all. After the first day of the 36-hole event, the Lady Red Devils led by six shots over Auburn High. Central eventually won by four shots at Robert Trent Jones' The Shoals golf course. Auburn came in second for the second straight year.

"Congratulations should go out to Auburn ," Central coach Gary Socha said. "They are always very competitive. They made some shots in the end, and it boiled down to the last two or three holes where every shot was very important."

Wilson, who won the low medalist last year, didn't disappoint this year, shooting a 145 over the two-day tournament and repeating as medalist. "It felt great," Wilson said. "We were very excited when we found out, and then the tears came, of course." According to Lemieux, she and Harrell were the only seventh graders in the tournament. So the experience was different. "I'm so proud," Harrell said. "I'm one of the few seventh graders, and I finished in the top five." Harrell finished with a 156, and Lemieux shot a 187.

Socha had been Central's boys golf coach up until this year, when he left to coach the girls team. Next year looks promising for the state champions. Wilson will return as a senior and Harrell and Lemieux will be veteran eighth graders.