Jesuit sophomore Jordan Spieth isn't satisfied with his surge up the national junior golf rankings. He also wants to be called a state champion.

At 15 years old, Spieth (pronounced SPEETH) has climbed to No. 1 in the Golfweek/Titleist junior national rankings and No. 3 nationally in the AJGA/Polo junior rankings.

But Spieth also craves a state title. He'll get his chance to avenge his disappointing 13th-place showing a year ago when he competes at the UIL Class 5A state tournament Thursday and Friday at Jimmy Clay Golf Course in Austin.

"Everyone wants to say one day that they won a high school state championship," Spieth said. "It's always nice, especially in Texas, because sports are just so huge here. I'm definitely looking forward to it and preparing like it's a national tournament."

Spieth could have spent last week worrying about Tuesday's pre-qualifying tournament for next week's HP Byron Nelson Championship or his ambitious summer schedule of amateur tournaments.

But he's been homed in on the state tournament, where last year he was assessed a two-stroke penalty for giving advice, turning his first-round 74 into a 76. A rules official overheard him tell another player in his group what club he had hit.

"It was really unfortunate, because I thought he had a chance to win the individual title four years in a row," Jesuit coach Cathy Marino said. "This year, I think it will motivate him."

Marino, who played for SMU and on the LPGA Tour for 10 years, said it's been exciting to coach Spieth.

"When I was a senior in high school in Southern California, I was the No. 1-ranked girls junior player in the country and named AJGA Player of the Year, so it's been fun to be able to help him with some of the stuff I went through."

Spieth will be pushed in Austin by Spring Branch Memorial's Cory Whitsett. The junior won the 5A state title last year with a 141 score (eight strokes better than Spieth). Whitsett also sits No. 2 nationally in the Golfweek and Polo junior rankings.

Cameron McCormick, Brook Hollow Golf Club's director of instruction and Spieth's personal coach, said Spieth is ready for the challenge.

"The state tournament and the state amateur are two trophies he'd really like to have on his résumé," McCormick said. "He's looking to go kick some butt down there."