Sallisaw and Muldrow were among the teams that tuned up for the regional by competing in the Pryor Invitational last week. The Diamonds won the team title and Earls took medalist honors at that event and they all experienced similar success on the same course Monday.
Earls was crowned regional champion, but not before another tough challenge from Sallisaw's Jacob Bartel. Earls, who edged Bartel by a stroke to win last week's tournament at Pryor, outlasted the Sallisaw sophomore in a sudden death playoff to win the regional title.
Bartel and Earls have been neck-and-neck throughout the spring after finishing second and third, respectively, at last year's state tournament.
On Monday, Earls had rounds of 75 and 74 to finish at 149 after 36 holes of golf. Bartel trailed by a stroke after the first 18, but pulled even by firing a 73 in the second round. Both golfers were still tied after the first hole of the playoff, before Earls prevailed on the second.
Earls, a senior who has already signed with the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, was the lone Muldrow golfer to qualify for the upcoming state tournament.
Sallisaw will be taking its team to the state tournament, thanks to the Diamonds' first-place showing on Monday.
Bartel's 149 led Sallisaw to an eight-stroke victory over regional runner-up Bristow, which finished with a four-player score of 649. Pryor tied Poteau for third place with a 655.
Sallisaw's team score was 641. Blaine Teague had rounds of 80 and 82 to finish at 162. Derrek Branham shot a 165, Quentin McKinney a 168 and David Nguyen a 170 for the Black Diamonds, who were regional runners-up in 2005.
Individual qualifiers for the state tournament in addition to Earls, were Wagoner's Josh Boswell (152), Hilldale's Jordan Perceful (155) and Ricky Richter (165), Idabel's Brad Podany (169) and Okmulgee's Drew Powell (169).
The Class 4A state golf tournament will be played on Monday and Tuesday, May 8-9, at Rose Creek Golf Course in Edmond.
Class 2A Regional
FORT COBB - Vian's Nathan Harris earned a spot in the state tournament on Monday, finishing fifth overall at the 2A regional at Fort Cobb Golf Course.
The Wolverine sophomore shot a 36-hole score of 157 to qualify as an individual for the state tourney.
Medalist Ryan Miller had rounds of 71 and 80 to lead Velma-Alma to the team title on Monday. Velma-Alma had a team score of 650, while Hinton was second with a 658 and Amber-Pocasset was third with a 683.
Additional qualifiers beside Harris were Frederick's Kelby Boyd (157), Wewoka's Colton Johnson (161), Fort Cobb's Jeremy Repp (164), Dibbble's Tanner England (169) and Walters' Rudy Ototivo (169).
The Class 2A state tournament is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, May 8-9, at Sugar Creek Canyon in Hinton.
