Pike Patriots golfer Susie Stell claimed her third straight Alabama Independent School Association State Golf Championship on Tuesday at the Cambrian Ridge Golf Course in Greenville.

“I was really excited,” Stell said. “It was definitely a pretty big moment of the season and in my career.”

Stell is a junior, and she said the three-year title streak has been a highlight of her young career.

“I think the first year was my favorite one because I was younger,” Stell said. “This year there was a little more pressure to keep winning and to keep playing the way I wanted to.”

Stell shot an 88 on Tuesday, relying heavily on her short game.

“They had me far back and I don’t hit the ball very far, so I had to be really good with my short game,” Stell said. “I definitely putted the ball well.”

Concentrating and practicing her short game is something that is always a point of emphasis when Stell works with head coach Gene Allen.

“The most important thing in golf is your short game,” Stell said. “Like Coach Allen always says ‘it’s not how you drive, it’s how you arrive.’”

Even with the win, Stell believes she didn’t play her best golf especially down the stretch. Stell finished her final three holes eight over par.

“I could have played better,” Stell said. “I kind of fell apart in the last three holes. I kind of put myself in some tough positions after putting some drives where I shouldn’t have.”

Stell, not only topped the females for the state title, she also finished in the top 25 overall, meaning she bested nearly 50 of her male counterparts.

“One of my goals was to rank high against the boys,” Stell said. “I tried to beat as many of them as I could.”

Even wit the season now complete, Stell will continue to work on golf game. She will have a couple of tournaments over the summer. Golf for Stell is a year-round sport.

“I will still be practicing, I have some summer tournaments coming up,” Stell said. “I practice all year round. I play basketball so I have a little break there, but other than that I practice all year-round.”

During practice, Stell gets quality coaching from her head coach.

“He has been a really big asset in my golfing career,” Stell said. “He has taught me things about saving strokes by putting myself in a better situation.”