Published: April 25, 2008 12:45 am         

Lone Oak golf heads to state

STEPHENVILLE — Tyler Duffy won the medalist title by nine shots to lead the Lone Oak Buffaloes to second place in the team standings at the University Interscholastic League Region II-2A golf tournament on Thursday.

Duffy shot a four-under 68 on Wednesday at the Legends Country Club and a 74 on Thursday to finish with a two-under 142 for 36 holes. He earned his second straight trip to the state tournament. He finished 12th at state last year.

Lone Oak will also be bringing a golf team to state after finishing second to Nocona. The Buffaloes carded rounds of 329 and 345 for a 674 total. Nocona rallied from three strokes down with a 334 on Thursday for a 666 total.

“I think it’s the first time Lone Oak’s taking a golf team to state,” said Randy Jackson, Lone Oak’s athletic director and golf coach. “Duffy went last year as an individual. Chase Johnson went before that. It’s pretty neat for our team to go.”

Jackson also said Duffy’s nine-shot victory was pretty special.

Nathan McKinney shot rounds of 86-90 for a 176 total for Lone Oak, followed by teammates Josh Tignor (89-89-178), Ty Stogsdill (86-92-178) and Curtis Sherer (98-97-195).

The Class 2A state golf tournament is set for May 5-6 at the Roy Kizer Golf Course in Austin.