McCallie's Patrick McDonald hits his second shot in the fairway at No. 11 in this 2012 file photo.Patrick McDonald doesn't know this, but he is one big win away from completing an area prep golf grand slam.
The McCallie senior won medalist at the Baylor Preview. He won medalist at the City Prep Championship. He won medalist in the Division II East/Middle Regional.
All he needs is the state championship.
"I'm trying win state as part of a team, but individual would be nice as well," said McDonald, who will play for the University of Memphis next season. "The whole year comes down to this final tournament, and it would mean a lot to me.
"I know this course, I hit it well today, putted well and I'm excited for tomorrow."
McCallie, and defending champion Baylor, are among the boys teams competing in the 36-hole state championship beginning this morning at Willowbrook Golf Club in Manchester.
"Our boys haven't lost a dual match and not finished worse than second in any tournament, but I'm not sure they know that," Baylor coach Gary Partrick said. "It's going to be interesting to see how we handle the big state.
"I don't know where we fall in terms of favorites, but all six teams this year are equal."
In the girls' competition, Baylor is seeking its second straight state championship win against Girls Preparatory School and others including Ensworth which halted the Lady Raiders 15-year streak of state championships in 2011.
The Bruisers are competing as a team in their first state championship since 2008.
Juniors Emily Blake and Mary Melissa Manuel competed as individuals last year. This year, they'll joined by teammate Scottie Sandlin.
"The two who are leading the charge played last year, and this year it's very exciting," GPS coach Rob Riddle said from Manchester. "They're pretty selfless people, and they take more pride in getting the whole team here."
The Lady Raiders are in an unfamiliar role as well this week. They're the underdogs. Ensworth topped the Lady Raiders at the Baylor Preview and in a head-to-head match -- without Vanderbilt commit Alexandra Farnsworth both times -- and beat them by six shots at the Region championship last week with Farnsworth in the lineup.
"I think its new for Ensworth to be the favorites because we've always been the chased, and now we're doing the chasing," said Partrick, who can be encouraged by the fact that senior Blakesly Warren beat Farnsworth in a playoff last year. "Blakesly has a good record on that course, and for Katherine [Holmes] that's her favorite course."
Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6484. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP.