Defending 5A champion wins Irish Easter Classic

BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com

Altus’ Megan Blonein had been in the situation before.

Edmond North’s Carly Yates had not.

Blonein, who won the 5A state title last year as a freshman, parred the first hole of a playoff to beat Yates and win the Fifth Annual Irish Easter Invitational at Quail Creek on Monday.

For Blonein, it was her third playoff. Yates had not been in a playoff in high school.

Blonein’s drive on the playoff hole went left on the par 4 No. 1. But she safely punched her second shot out of the trees to just in front of the green and finished off the tournment win after Yates’ second shot sailed over the green, then wound up a bunker with her third shot.

Yates posted her round of 78 about three hours before the playoff, while Blonein finished not long before the playoff.

Blonein got off to a rough start, shooting a 42 on the back nine where she started. But she quickly bounced back on the front side, with back-to-back birdies on holes three and four to get back in the tournament.