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Winning has long been par for La Conner High School senior Emma Worgum.

The Lady Braves’ senior golf standout has excelled throughout her high school career, including summer tournaments. She capped her fantastic four-year run by capturing the Washington 1B/2B girls’ state championship at Deer Park May 25.

She carded a two-day score of 144 – highlighted by a three-under-par 69 during Thursday’s second round – to win the title by 17 strokes.

“Emma played great,” golf coach Jamie Carroll told the Weekly News. “It was her lowest career round. She hit her approach shots really well and hit her driver great off the tee.”

Worgum, who will compete with the Western Washington University women’s golf program next year, led the girls’ team with encouragement and by example all spring, Carroll and assistant coach Galen McKnight said.

The Lady Braves did not land on the team leaderboard because Worgum was the lone player to advance to the state tourney’s second day.

“A team consists of two players who make it to the second day,” Carroll explained.

Still, he liked how his younger players followed Worgum’s lead in managing tough course conditions.

“There were some long tee shots over water that I thought were going to be tough,” Carroll noted, “but the girls handled them really well.”

The La Conner boys’ team also qualified for state play and made an impression by placing fourth on the same course.

Sammy Williams and Gage Tenborg each made the cut for second day action and got a trophy finish for the Braves.

“Sammy improved both days, shooting 84 and 83, both of which were his career low rounds,” said Carroll. “Gage played well, firing 83 and 86.”

Carroll said he was proud of the progress everyone made and the enthusiasm with which they played.

“It was fun to see how they got so into it,” he said. “They were all excited about golf.

“I’m incredibly impressed with all my golfers,” Carroll stressed. “For most of them this was their first year. They worked incredibly hard to make it to state.”