The streak of 17 straight district titles is older than most members of Mansfield's girls team.

The six returnees from last season will be reminded of the streak when they don the T-shirts made just for the ride to the district tournament later this spring. The T-shirts are a team tradition.

"When we put on those shirts, we know what we have to do," said senior captain Brittany Beckett.

The shirts usually have a slogan and always make reference to the streak.

"Coach [Chris] Coursey doesn't put pressure on us," Beckett said. "We're aware of the streak, but we play for ourselves and for enjoyment."

Mansfield's tradition of success had a lot to do with junior twins Caitlyn and Claire Whitis getting serious about golf as ninth-graders. The other returnees – Beckett, senior Ashley Body, junior Katie Reyher and sophomore Katie Grady – started playing at younger ages.

They were aware of Mansfield's record of success well before they started high school.

Mansfield failed to qualify for state last year after finishing fourth in 2005 and 2006. Earning their way back to Austin is a goal, the girls say.

As some members of the high school golf coaching community like to remind Plano West's Rick Hardison, signs point to a big season for his boys team.

The last nine winners of the Bart Granger Invitational have gone on to win state titles. The reigning tournament winner: Plano West, which finished 23 shots ahead of a 52-team field in September at Pecan Valley Golf Course in Fort Worth.

"Some of my fellow coaches seem to mention it quite a bit," Hardison said. "They want to put the pressure on, I guess. I'm the first to admit we have a lot of talent. But you've got to be fortunate, too."

Even without the Granger title, Plano West's pedigree is obvious.

The team has finished third at state the last two years. All five 2007 starters return. Three of the five started in 2005-2006.

Seniors Alex Moon and Brett Spencer, Plano West's best finisher (fourth overall) at the Granger, have signed with Texas. Sumin Yu, John Rosener and Ryan Dagerman complete a starting five that shot no worse than 76 in 10 rounds at state last year.

"We've been close, but we haven't quite done it," Hardison said. "It's not like we played badly down there. The guys are very motivated to get back. They've talked about it a lot, starting with our trip home after state last May."

In addition to the Granger title, Plano West won two other fall tournaments, with Yu leading the way at the Lake Highlands Invitational and Dagerman best at the Allen tournament.

For a 15-year-old who had yet to play his first high school tournament, St. Mark's freshman Anthony Paolucci received a lot of attention from classmates.

Friends inquired about becoming his agent, his caddie and even his bodyguard.

Paolucci laughs it off.

But there is no denying the 6-1, 145-pound Paolucci has a bright future in golf. He proved that last summer when, at 14, he came within one match victory of replacing Tiger Woods as the youngest player to win the USGA Junior Amateur. The tournament was televised nationally, and his performance landed him on the front page of SportsDay.

The result: instant fame.

"For me to go some place and have people recognize me, that's pretty cool," Paolucci said.

His father, a collegiate golfer at Ohio State, has emphasized the need for an education because of the odds against anyone making the PGA Tour. So Paolucci is enrolled at St. Mark's, where academics come first.

St. Mark's, runner-up in the Southwest Preparatory Conference golf tournament last year, should make a run at the title as Paolucci joins 2007 individual champion Michael Young and Finley Ewing IV, who has signed with Texas Tech.

Paolucci has already made unofficial visits to colleges. He plans to commit at the end of his junior year.

Paolucci spent the winter working on a swing change, utilizing a mirror in his house.

Under pressure, his favorite club is the driver. His natural shot is a draw. Good information for would-be caddies to remember.

It isn't enough for Chantry McMahan to just be a member of Kaufman's girls team.

She is also part-time recruiter and part-time coach.

At Class 3A Kaufman, there is no guarantee there will be enough golfers to form a complete team.

As the most accomplished member of the team, McMahan said she encouraged friends to join. And she's eager to help them during practice.

"When they play well, I get a good feeling," said McMahan, a sophomore. "When the team is happy, everybody is happy."

As a freshman, McMahan was third at the Class 3A state tournament last May.

She's been busy trying to improve.

To do so, she's targeted two areas: improving her distance with physical training (she's 5-4 and 125 pounds) and working on her mental approach.

"I know I'm physically stronger than last year," she said. "I have more flexibility with my swing. Mentally, I'm trying to focus on not getting uptight after a bad hole."

One bad hole was costly on the first day of last year's state tournament, leading to a 78. She shot 74 in the final round for a 152 total, three strokes behind the winner, Frisco Wakeland freshman Taylor Newlin.

McMahan is a recent inductee into the National Honor Society, plays clarinet in the school band and is in the school's drama club. She's been acting since the third grade.

"My dream would be to go to a college where I could play golf and act," she said.

March 31-April 12: UIL district certification

April 2: Last day for TAPPS district certification

April 9: Last day for TAPPS regional certification

April 21-26: UIL regionals

April 21-22: TAPPS state tournament

May 1-2: SPC championship

May 5-6: UIL state for Class A, 2A, 4A

May 8-9: UIL state for Class 3A, 5A