LEXINGTON, SC — At the Country Club of Lexington on Tuesday, the wind did not let up and neither did the host Lexington Wildcats.

Lexington extended its first-round lead, shooting 302 to top Spartanburg by 43 strokes and reclaim the Class 4A girls golf title.

“We’re just excited to get a win again,” said sophomore Lauren Stephenson, who shot a 73, shaving one stroke from her first round total.

“It was good for us to be able to hold it together, especially because of the pressing conditions,” Stephenson said.

The Wildcats shot a two-day 607 to earn the program’s eighth title in nine seasons.

“When we came in second a year ago, our focus has been to try and start a new streak,” coach Brandon Smith said. “Our starters made it their mission to get better and all season its been a team effort.”

The team started the day with a 17-stroke lead over Upper State champion Spartanburg, and Smith expected his team to be confident.

“To come back and play a little bit better, make it hard for teams to catch us, it’s definitely something I thought we could do,” Smith said.

Junior Sydney Legacy said, “I expected us to keep our heads in the game, and our whole team was behind all of us.”

Legacy was the tournament’s individual medalist with an 36-hole score of 144. She sealed the win with a second-round 73, parring every hole but the par-4 third. South Aiken’s Taylor Dodson placed second in the state with a 145.

“It felt awesome,” Legacy said.

Stephenson and Hailey Cleary also made the All-State team, shooting 147 and 151 respectively.

“Hailey was out for a month with an injury, and the first time she picked up a club again was Friday, so you can’t deny her guts, to come out here and do what she did,” Smith said.

The Wildcats’ foursome returns next season.