YAKIMA -- Qualifying two golfers for the state tournament might not seem like that big of a deal for most schools.

Heck, five area teams will each send three to their respective tournaments this week, which features a total of 50 local competitors and six more who are alternates.

But when you consider the team that is sending those two golfers -- plus an alternate -- to state, the accomplishment is magnified.

Just a few springs ago, the coaches for the Davis girls golf team didn't know if they'd get anyone to turn out or if those players had even swung a golf club.

That all started to change in 2006 when Caitlin Malone and Shannon Bedell arrived on the scene as freshmen, with Hannah Naughton making her debut as a freshman last spring.

Those three have sparked a renaissance for the Davis girls, consistently the third-best team in the talented CBL 4A this spring, helping produce a strong turnout that also includes juniors Raven Stackhouse and Hilary Erlandson, and freshmen Janelle Smith and Erin Padavich.

"Three years ago, we were just barely surviving, trying to get a team together," said Arnie Mackey, who coaches the team with Don Knight. "Then we got Caitlin and Shannon as freshmen, and they're the glue that held the team together. Then we added Hannah last year and she's a super talent.

"Those three are our pioneers. They are the strength of our team."

After helping Davis reach unprecedented heights this season, which included the school's first sub-400 team score (taken from the four lowest scores in a round), Malone and Bedell will be representing the Pirates at the Class 4A state tournament that begins today at Sudden Valley Golf Course in Bellingham.

Naughton, who lost to Bedell in a playoff for the district's final state berth, will be there as an alternate.

"It's really exciting," said Malone, who is making her second straight state trip despite not picking up the game until high school. "We had to play a lot better this year because we had a lot better girls playing (at district)."

That was evident by the scoring.

Last year, Malone advanced to state by shooting a 97 and then winning in a three-way playoff that included Naughton. Two weeks ago at Sun Willows, she shot 87 and needed every bit of that score to avoid another sudden-death playoff with Bedell and Naughton, who shot 88.

The three entered district ranked 10th (Naughton), 11th (Malone) and 12th (Bedell) in the league, and wound up seventh (Malone) and tied for eighth (Bedell and Naughton) in an extremely competitive league that includes Eisenhower's Christine Cook.

"Before the season, Don set goals of two to state and breaking 400 as a team," Mackey said. "I thought those goals were pretty high because our league is so good, but it all came to fruition (at district)."

Then again, when you start with players as skilled and competitive as Malone, Bedell and Naughton, goals like that can be easier to achieve.

"I'm really competitive," said Malone, who joins older brothers Connor and John as captains for their Davis golf teams, sharing her duties the past three seasons with Bedell. "Hannah and I golf together all the time and we drive off of each other and try to match what the other does."

"They're all very competitive," Knight said. "Seeing one improve encourages the others to keep improving. It's really nice to see how they've progressed."

Today, Malone and Bedell take that progression to state, but regardless of their showing there, they already know they've accomplished something special.

"There's not really anything written down, but the next goal would be day two," Mackey said of them making the cut. "But that's frosting on the cake. Making it to state was the goal, especially when you only take eight out of a really tough league. They've reached that goal and now they're enjoying the ride."

"I missed the cut by two strokes last year, so my goal this time is to definitely make it to the second round," Malone said. "But I just want to go out and represent Davis and Yakima and do my best."

CLASS 4A

BOYS

Eisenhower: Brad Donahue, 77-88--165.

GIRLS

Davis: Caitlin Malone, 87; Shannon Bedell, 88; Hannah Naughton, 88 (alternate). Eisenhower: Christine Cook, 78.

CLASS 3A

BOYS

Sunnyside: Justin Bos, 156. West Valley: Eric Gravbrot, 151 (two rounds); Teddy Jones, 157.

GIRLS

West Valley: Jenna Boyle, 98-86--184; Liz Tikriti, 98-98--196; Brianna Wood, 94-110--204.

CLASS 2A

BOYS

East Valley: Tyler Jensen, 90. Ellensburg: Zack Heaton, 75; Andrew Burr, 87. Prosser: Tommy Contreras, 88; Chad Hancock, 90. Selah: J.J. Wood, 83; Joe Thomas, 84; Tyler Sugden, 87; Jared Brink, 91 (alternate).

GIRLS

East Valley: Raechel Chandler, 96; Katlin DeWitt, 106. Ellensburg: Kim Ellis, 90; Nevada Caraway, 107; Maria Hedrick, 109. Selah: Emily Harris, 89; Sonia Taylor, 100; Brittney Wells, 101. Wapato: Wendy Lopez, 108.

CLASS 1A

BOYS

Cle Elum: Michael Greene, 90; Michael Montgomery, 93. Goldendale: Zach Wanderscheid, 79; D.J. Campbell, 95; Kyle Titus, 96; Ron Lindhe, 96 (alternate). Highland: Minwoo Park, 81; Kenny Hampton 85. Naches Valley: Jon Forgey, 81. Zillah: Eric Kilthau, 85; Stephen Adams, 90.

GIRLS

Cle Elum: Taylor Ricco, 104. Goldendale: Amber Ihrig, 103; Monica DeRushe' 117 (alternate). Highland: Lillian Mitchum, 108. Naches Valley: Mandi Stockton, 98.

CLASS B

BOYS

La Salle: Tim Lewis, 90; Sam LaFramboise, 90. Riverside Christian: Matt Crockett, 75; Ryan Woods, 92; Greg Doornink, 94 (alternate).

GIRLS

La Salle: Ariana McElrath, 103; Julie Cozzetto, 107; Melissa Taylor, 133; Sarah Marquis, 149 (alternate). Riverside Christian: Joy Attaway, 110; Rebekah Reynolds, 142.