Harrison senior James White has used his golfing ability to take him across the nation, and this fall it will take him to Georgia Tech on a scholarship.

But it was his play in the biggest tournament of his high school career that built his reputation.

White fired back-to-back rounds of 65 and 67 at the state golf tournament on Jekyll Island to lap the field and claim state medalist honors by 11 strokes.

"I feel like I peaked my high school career at the end of my sophomore year," White said. "I obviously play a lot of stuff outside of high school, so this was a big challenge for me to go to another level this season. When you feel like you have gotten to the top, it was harder for me to still be interested in high school golf. I just have more motivation when I am playing against the best competition. I finally got myself motivated for one and pulled through."

It wasn't exactly a breeze in his senior season. His year was decidedly up and down with several rounds that were very un-White-like. But in the end, led by White, the Hoyas captured their second state golf title.

"I kept accusing him of taking the state tournament off," said Harrison coach Billy Peek, laughing. "He shot par at state last year and then went out and shot a 61. It was an up and down kind of year for him, but he put it all together, big-time, for state this year."

Peek said that the strength in White's game is his mental abilities. That also transferred to the rest of the team.

"I really work with their mental aspect, and that is one of James' strengths right now," Peek said. "He doesn't get too high or get too low. His strength is that he puts a bad hole behind him. He stays on an even keel. He wanted to make his theme staying positive. I don't think that he can work any harder than he does."

That dedication to helping his teammates forget bad holes was one of the big reasons Harrison was able to return to the top of the state. All four years that White was on the roster, the Hoyas advanced to the state tournament, only to come up short of their team goal.

"Out of all four years, every year I thought we had a good chance. I really wanted to win that team thing one time," he said. "And this year we pulled through. The main thing was that I wanted to do my part, and I did that."

White has a busy summer planned before college. He will attempt to qualify for the U.S. Open and the U.S. Amateur tournaments.

ALL-NORTHWEST TEAM

> Player of the Year: James White, Harrison

FIRST TEAM

> Ollie Schienderjans (Harrison): Just a freshman, consistent scorer for state champs

> Anders Albertson (Etowah): Another young player, missed state by a stroke

> Blaine Woodruff (Harrison): Sophomore tied for second in the region

> Cameron Simmons (Harrison): Region 5-AAAAA medalist

> Austin Graham (Harrison): Fourth overall at the state tournament

> Randy White (Woodstock): Led Wolverines to first state tournament appearance