From 2004 to 2020, there was no girls golf team in the state as dominant as Lexington. 

The Wildcats won 14 state championships in that span, falling short only in 2011, 2015 and 2019. The team won seven championships in a row from 2004-10 and had two three-peats from 2012-14 and 2016-18. 

Since 2020, the team has failed to reach those same heights, finishing just below some strong competition locally and statewide. 

Lexington placed third in last year’s 5A-Division I final, finishing just behind Dorman and River Bluff. The Wildcats and Gators were locked in a tight battle for the runner-up spot, but River Bluff edged Lexington by a single stroke to claim second place.

The Wildcats finished ahead of both Dorman and River Bluff to win the Upper State tournament, but fell behind in the final to place third. That outing motivated them to come into this season prepared and earn a shot at redemption. 

“ I think states kind of left a little bad taste in their mouths,” Lexington head coach Brandon Smith said. “We thought we should have been first or second. I thought we had a chance to win it.”

Lexington is led by returners Lyles Heritage, Claire Kim, Taryn Smoak and Giavanna Martusciello. All four played for Lexington in the state final last season. Dailie Gibson, Emma Hawk and Sophie Taylor will also contribute to the team this year.

“We’re very excited,” Smith said. “They have got off to an excellent start.”

The Wildcats started the year with a win at the Lady Bengal. The group had some of its top players in and out of the lineup for its next few tournaments, but still placed fifth at the Lady Rebel and fourth at the Palmetto Preview. 

Lexington still has a few major tournaments left on its schedule, but one Smith is really excited for is the Central Florida Tournament of Champions. The team will travel to Orlando and play against some of the top competition from that state, giving them a different look than what they are used to.

Once the regular season wraps up and the postseason begins, Smith is confident in his team’s abilities. He’s seen the work they put in and the dedication they have to improving over last year. 

“ Our girls are very focused at practice. I think they know what it takes, that we need to put in that little bit of extra work and limit our mistakes,” Smith said. “I think it's going to come down to probably the same three teams, Dorman, River Bluff and Lexington again at the end this year. …So it's going to be competitive again.”