A change in classification did not detour the direction for the Demonettes, who seek to continue their climb in golf.

A season after sharing seventh at the New Mexico Class AAAAA State Golf Championships, Santa Fe High looks for a higher finish in its debut in AAAA.

"If we're on our game and playing to our potential, we can walk out of there a top-five team," Leonard Baca, Santa Fe High head coach, says.

The Demonettes begin their ascent today at The University of New Mexico Championship Golf Course in Albuquerque. The two-day, 36-hole tournament concludes Tuesday.

Deming and Kirtland-Central, last year's champion and runner-up, head the field. Roswell Goddard and Los Alamos are two more contenders.

The fifth spot appears to be a three-way tug-of-war between Santa Fe High, Albuquerque Academy and Albuquerque St. Pius X.

The Demonettes must first conquer the course.

"It's a very challenging golf course that's set up for the Division I college teams playing there," Baca says. "For some of the girls, it intimidates them a little bit mentally."

Controlling nerves is half the concern.

"When we get around the green or just off the green, our distance control goes out the window," Baca says. "That's been a real problem for us."

Well, the last month it has.

"The first four tournaments we were really playing some impressive golf," Baca says. "And we had a good week of practice. We were a lot more focused. If we get focused and play the way I know we can, we can be competitive."

Allie Fullerton, Robyn West and Andrea Grijalva played a season-long game of leapfrog. Each has topped the scorecard during the season, with Fullerton leaping to the District 2AAAA individual championship last week.

Fullerton and West are juniors, while Grijalva, Lauren Heine and Elycia Montoya are sophomores. All will return next season, save for Fullerton, who decided to graduate early.

"We have state experience, but we're still a very young team," Baca says. "We have four coming back next year, which is exciting."

What remains to be determined is Santa Fe High's starting point for next season.