BY JEFF WALKER

AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

AUSTIN — Samantha Soto used to be superstitious — mom’s home-cooked spaghetti before every tournament and Ace of Base in her ipod while she was warming up.

The senior from Seminole doesn’t need superstition anymore. Her talent on the golf course has helped her qualify for three consecutive trips to the UIL State Tournament. Her focus and maturity could land her a state title.

“She’s more mature, and with that, she’s become mentally stronger,” Seminole head coach Mitch Shain said on Wednesday before Soto’s practice round at the Roy Kizer Golf Course. “I don’t have to do a lot with her to get her focused and ready. This year, she does that pretty well on her own. Her game is about the same, she may drive a little longer, but her shot-making ability and her decision-making are better this year and that comes with maturity.”

Soto didn’t make it to the regional tournament as a freshman. As a sophomore, she shot back-to-back 78s at the Morris Williams Golf Course to finish in a tie for sixth place at her first state tournament. She finished seven strokes behind the winner, and only four back from second place.

Soto returned to Austin last year and was in contention for the Class 3A state title following the first round at the Kizer Course. Her opening-round 73 was just a shot back of Andrews’ Addison Long and Monahans’ Courtney Rutledge.

Soto shot a 77 in the second round to finish fourth. Long shot another 72 to win the state title. This time, Soto was only two shots shy of finishing second.

“I’ve improved in each of the last two years,” Soto said. “I think I can improve again, and being older helps.”

By her own admission, Soto is like a team that plays to the level of its competition. She’s played in four tournaments the last two years at the Kizer Course, home of today’s 3A championship. In the two state-preview tournaments hosted by Andrews, Soto said she didn’t play well. In four rounds of the state tournament, Soto’s has yet to shoot higher than 79.

“I like this course. It’s challenging. I like the fairways, but the greens are a little tough,” Soto said. “I think I get more focused in bigger tournaments, like regionals and the state tournament.”

Soto finished second at the Region I-3A Tournament at Meadowbrook, two shots behind Monahans’ Shelbye Hill. That was three weeks ago. Since then, Shain said he’s worked on Soto’s wedge shots and her driving. The goal is to break par (71) in each round.

“She’s been real focused the last two weeks,” Shain said. “She’s been preparing herself to come here. Every time she teed off the last two weeks, we talked about breaking par. Our work the last two weeks was totally focused on that.”

If Soto breaks par, she’ll have a good chance at winning the title. Long’s winning score last year was 2-over par. Taylor Newlin of Frisco Wakeland won the 3A title at 5-over par (shooting 3-over and 2-over). Ashley Watkins of Sealy won the 3A title in 2006 on the Jimmy Clay Golf Course by shooting 2-over. Watkins shot par in the first round.

“I think the experience she’s gotten of being down here, the fact that she’s played this course, now about eight times, will help her,” Shain said. “She knows the atmosphere. She knows what it takes and those experiences will help her tremendously. I think she’s ready to go.”