Auburn High School stepped across the Alabama state line to win the 43rd annual Larry Gaither Hardaway Invitational in runaway style. Auburn shot a 1-under 575 for the 36-hole event, leaving Marist (22 over), defending champion Columbus (27 over) and Brookstone (34 over) in its wake.
Jonathan Parker of Columbus shot 70-70 and was medalist at 4-under 140. Owen Burden of Marist and Jake Reitz of Auburn tied for second at 141, with Burden being named runner-up via scorecard regression.
Marist’s Burden had a 68 on the second down, the low round of the tournament. Will Morlan shot even par for the War Eagles and finished sixth. Columbus also counted a 3-over from Ben Carr.
Auburn also counted a 1-under from Connor Newton, a 1-over from Tanner Guthrie and a 2-over from Jack Stevens.
Strong field assembles for Carrollton's Trojan Invitational: Nine of the top boys golf teams in the state will compete in the Trojan Invitational at historic Sunset Hills in Carrollton on Friday and Saturday.
The field includes Colquitt County, Columbus, Darlington, Lafayette, LaGrange, St. Pius, Starr’s Mill, Auburn (Ala.) and host Carrollton.
Columbus and Starr’s Mill both won state championships in 2017. Columbus features holdovers Jonathan Parker and Ben Carr. Starr’s Mill’s roster includes veterans Luke Phillips and Mayson Mayfield. Daniel McKenzie of St. Pius was the Class AAAA medalist.
Darlington and Starr’s Mill finished second and third in the event last year. Defending champion Creekview is not in the field.
Creekview claims Middle Georgia title: Creekview won the Middle Georgia Girls Classic at Little Ocmulgee Golf Course, beating Colquitt County by two shots. Host Bleckley County finished third. Colquitt County's Elizabeth Funderburk was medalist via a tiebreaker with Creekview's Peyton Rich after both shot 78s. Bleckley County's Brooke Creig finished third with an 81.
Woodward wins Lady Viking Invitational: The Woodward Academy girls won the Lady Viking at Kinderlou Forest in Valdosta. Host Valdosta was second, with Colquitt County and Carrollton tied for third.
Colquitt takes Lady Packer Invitational: The Packers ran away from the field to win by 22 shots over Tift County at the Sunset Country Club in Moultrie. Colquitt shot a 258 to win its first tournament of the season. Colquitt County's Elizabeth Funderburk was medalist with a 73, two strokes clear of Tift County's Kasie Harrelson. Payton Elkins of Lowndes finished third with an 81.
Got golf news? Send to golf@stanawtrey.com.
About the Author
