Featured photo courtesy of Benton High School
Benton won the Division I girls state championship for the second straight year Tuesday in Youngsville.
Because of the threat of inclement weather, the tournament at the Les Vieux Chenes Golf Club was called after nine holes. Benton Head Coach Tim Cram said it started to rain soon after the completion of nine holes.
The players and coaches waited around for about two-and-a-half hours before the tournament was called.
Benton sophomore Grace Goodwin and senior Abigail McWilliams combined for a 1-over 73 on the front nine Tuesday. The Tigers shot 5-under-par 215 over 27 holes. Barbe finished a distant second at 12-over 232.
Benton led Barbe by 12 strokes after Monday’s 18-hole first round.
Goodwin and McWilliams finished second and third, respectively, in the medalist competition.
Goodwin shot 3 under. McWilliams was one stroke back.
Goodwin had six pars, one birdie, one bogey and one double bogey. McWilliams had one bogey and two birdies.
“They played awesome,” Cram said. “(Monday), Grace, I mean 5-under par. And that was with a double bogey on the next to last hole. She had it 7 under at one time. So she played unbelievable yesterday and Abigail still played well. She shot 1 under. That’s great.”
“And then today, (Abigail) shot 1 under on the first nine holes. And Grace ended up shooting 3 over. They played extremely well, especially in the conditions. They are arguably two of the best golfers in the state of Louisiana as far as girls go.”
Brusly’s Maci Williams shot a 2-under 34 Tuesday and took medalist honors at 6 under.
Cram said McWilliams and Goodwin were eager to play a full 18 Tuesday.
“They were both mad because they didn’t get to finish the last nine holes,” he said. “They wanted a shot at the individual. I’m very proud of both of them. Both of them were excellent and I couldn’t ask for a better group to go out on.”
Benton senior Kade Bryant finished tied for 17th in the Division I boys tournament at The Wetlands in Lafayette.
He shot a 3-over 39 on the first nine holes and finished at 3-over 111 over 27 holes. Lafayette High’s Drew Sliman took medalist honors at 7 under. He finished one stroke ahead of Northshore’s Justin Lotz and two ahead of Jesuit’s Duke Nitcher.
The state tournament was was the final one for Cram, who is retiring after leading the Tigers to unprecedented success.
“It was kind of sad, especially with Abigail,” Cram said of his swan song. “I had told her and then Kade Bryant … I told both of them when they were younger I would finish out with them. Both of them are great kids and so is Grace. I had a great time.”
Cram became the head coach in 1997. During his tenure, Benton won seven boys and two girls state championships.
The Tigers won the Class 3A boys title in 2004. They had a remarkable run of five straight Division II titles from 2012 to 2016. Benton also won the 2018 Division II championship. After moving up to Division I, the Tigers finished runner-up in 2021 and 2023,
Cram, who has also served as head boys basketball coach and assistant football coach, said he is leaving with mixed emotions.
“It’s been 30 years of great golf, golfers,” he said. “And of course with basketball and football and doing that too.
“Golf, it’s been great. It’s bittersweet. Yeah, I’m going to enjoy a little time off but, man, I’m going to miss the kids. I had a bunch of great kids through the years that still keep in contact with me and all that kind of stuff.”
Cram said he is grateful for the support the players’ parents have given the program over the years.
“The Benton parents for the golf team were second to none,” he said. “They support us and we don’t have any trouble from them. They know we’re trying to do the best we can.”
Cram is also thankful for the help of Robby McWilliams, father of Abigail and former Benton star Noah, now at LSU.
“I’ll say he was an assistant but really not an assistant,” Cram said. “Robby McWilliams is one of the best swing coaches in America. He was a tremendous help these last seven or eight years with his son Noah and of course Abigail.”
Cram summed it up this way.
“It’s been great, man. It’s been awesome.”