When Abby Newton isn't playing or practicing golf, or hitting the books for school, she prefers watching the men on the PGA tour over the ladies — and she might be playing alongside them one day.
She's already proven she can go lower than anyone has gone before at one local course, regardless of age or sex.
The Cinco Ranch junior fired a 64 on the first day of the District 19-5A tournament at River Ridge in Sealy, setting new course and competition records for any round, any gender at the golf club.
"It's one of my favorite courses so it's nice to have a record there," Newton said.
Her 7-under-par broke the old course record by four strokes, propelling her to the individual championship with a two-day 137. It also tied the district record and set new personal and school bests.
But as far as Newton knew it the time, it was just a solid round. She didn't think the 64 was a record of any kind - and it blew her mind when she found out later.
In fact, it did that to a lot of people.
Pasadena Memorial coach Don Jones, who has top Region III-5A contender Christina Stringham, took note, along with several area coaches and media outlets, including Avid Golf magazine.
"That's amazing," Jones said. "She's definitely going to be up there."
The record day began with the 16-year-old carding a front-nine score of 31 on the Ridge Course, sinking five birdies. She finished with a back-nine 33 and three birdies on the River Course.
She took just 28 total putts.
"(The first day) was pretty exciting, although I still felt like it could be better," Newton said. "But it was really good, and I just tried to keep it together on the back nine."
Newton kept her game together on the second day long enough to card a 73 and become the first Cinco Ranch girl to win district. But she was clearly wearing down by the end of the tournament.
She took second at an AJGA junior tourney at Savannah Quarters Country Club in Georgia the weekend before, giving her five rounds of grueling golf in just six days.
"You could tell I was getting a little exhausted, but I kept it together and still put up a good round," Newton said.
Newton's breakout season includes four tournament wins, which she attributes to maturity and a rapidly improving short game. She was hoping to add state qualifier to her expanding resume this week.
"(Making state) would be huge because that's a big tournament to go to and everyone talks about it, and when you're like 'Oh I've never been,' you're missing out, so I'd like to go," Newton said.
Lady Rams win district
The Mayde Creek girls track and field team won the District 19-5A tournament last week at Seven Lakes.
The Lady Rams registered 138 points to take the team title over Cinco Ranch (107) and Katy (100).
Craishia Washington won the 100-meter dash in 12.02 seconds and the 200 dash (25.24). Teammates Donna-Kaye Ennis and Taira Carney were second in the 100 and 200 dashes, respectively.
Mayde Creek also picked up wins in the 400 dash, with Ta'Tanysha Morgan posting a time of 57.95, 800 relay (1:43.40), long jump (Carney, 17 feet, 7 ½ inches) and triple jump (Carney, 35-9 ½).
Other Katy ISD district champions included Seven Lakes' Kailey Hill (1,600 and 3,200 runs), Katy Taylor's Aisha Graham (800 run) and Cinco Ranch's Erin Buck (shot put) on the girls side, and Katy's Kyle Fulks (100 dash), Morton Ranch's Elijah Hall-Thompson (200 dash) and Cinco Ranch's James Rhoden (110 hurdles) on the boys side.
The Region III-5A meet is set for May 2-3 in Humble.
The inaugural Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl, created by the United States Marine Corps and Junior Rank, will showcase 100 of the best high school seniors in the nation next year in Phoenix, Az.
The nationally televised bowl game with a traditional East-West format is set for Jan. 3, 2012.
The USMC and Junior Rank also partnered for The Proving Ground National Junior Combine, an invitation-only event for 300 elite juniors, and Junior Rank's national camp and combine circuit.
The Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl will be held in conjunction with Fiesta Bowl week and the celebration surrounding the BCS bowl game in Arizona.
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