DURHAM -- Brittany Talton made the reservations, even though she still had to navigate 18 demanding holes at the Duke University Golf Club in order to use them.
Over the next five hours, the Smithfield-Selma senior handled the test of golf that the 4A eastern regional girls championships were, coming in second individually with a round of 7-over, 81.
The finish locked up a spot in Monday and Tuesday's state 4A championships at Pinehurst No. 6, a year after sickness forced her to leave the regional competition that determines who plays for a state championship.
"I was definitely determined to get there," Talton said of this year's state championships. "I was so determined to get there that we went ahead and made reservations with the hotel and everything."
Talton is one of six area golfers who will play for state individual golf championships next week. She's joined in the 4A ranks by Garner's Nichole Ceyrolles and Arianna Ceyrolles.
Princeton junior Lacyn Belk, Princeton senior Megan Heath and North Johnston senior Meghan Watson both qualified for the 1A/2A state championships. Belk shot 95 in the eastern regional. The 1A/2A state finals begin Monday at Longleaf Golf and Country Club in Southern Pines.
Talton's round at the Duke layout was a model of consistency. She missed two fairways and landed in one bunker.
"I just concentrated on two-putting everything and I made a big point of trying to avoid the traps," Talton said.
The Trojans, who won the Greater Neuse River Conference title, finished fifth as a team at 288. Sophomore Lauren Ceyrolles shot 107, while freshman Emily O'Neil finished at 121.
Clayton freshman McKenna Hammer paced her team with a 101 on the day. West Johnston freshman Preslee Honeycutt led the Wildcats with a round of 117.
