Posted: Fri, 17 Apr 2015 04:54 PM - 66,255 Readers

By: Michael Adams

The 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion Kristen Gillman and rising junior star Kaitlyn Papp returned to the golf course this week and Region II-6A learned what many already expected - the Lake Travis girls golf team will be hard to stop.

Papp, a University of Texas commit, and Gillman helped lead the Cavaliers to the regional championship Thursday in the final round of the regional tournament at Cottonwood Golf Club in Waco.

The Cavaliers, who finished second behind Westlake at the District 14-6A Championships a week ago without Gillman and Papp, never faltered and finished with a team score of 579 - 11 strokes better than runner-up The Woodlands.

Kristen Gillman, seen during action at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur on Aug. 9, finished tied for fourth with teammate Ann Parmerter at the Region II-6A Championships Thursday. It was her first tournament action during the spring golf season.

Lake Travis led by 10 strokes after the first round and a second-round team score of 295 sealed the title.

As for Westlake, the Chaparrals finished fourth with a team score of 616, but were in contention after a first-round 301. Westlake, however, struggled on the second day and closed at 314.

The Chaparrals are alternates and will get a chance at a state title if one of the top three teams cannot compete, which also includes Montgomery.

Westlake’s Kennedy Swann tees off during the District 14-6A Championships at Lions Municipal Golf Course on April 7, 2015. Swann finished 7th at the Region II-6A Championships Thursday to qualify for the state championships as a medalist.

Papp finished second individually at 6-under par with a two-day score of 138. The sophomore was entered the clubhouse after the first round tied for the lead with a 66.

In her first tournament of the spring season, Gillman showed signs of rust and closed at even par with a 144 and tied with teammate Ann Parmerter for fourth place.

Gillman finished the first round at 1-under par and shot a 73 on the final day.

District 14-6A champion Kennedy Swann of Westlake did qualify for the state tournament as an individual medalist at 5-over par with a 149.

Swann shot a 72 on the first day, but was five-over in the final round to finish seventh overall.

Westlake’s Randi Romack, a state qualifier in 2014, will be an alternate for the state tournament after finishing tied for 10th with Waco Midway’s Mia Ayer.

Both finished at 10-over par with a 152, but Ayer qualified for state winning on the second hole of the playoff.

Leahman’s Hillary Hernandez also qualified for the state tournament as an individual medalist, finishing eighth with a two-day total 150.

The Class 6A Girls Golf Championships will be held at the University of Texas Golf Club in Austin on April 27-28.

*  Story Contributed by: Michael Adams