The Atlanta Athletic Club’s High School Invitational drew another great field and produced another memorable finish, with Rivers Academy scoring a one-shot win over Johns Creek.
The tournament was conducted under ideal conditions on club’s the historic Highlands Course, where three PGA Championships and a U.S. Open have been held. Rivers Academy, a small private school, shot a 3-under 213 to nip Johns Creek by a shot in the boys team event.
Rivers counted a 69 from Maxwell Ford, who overcame an early triple bogey and reeled off three straight birdies to finish the front nine. Other members of the team are Will Morlan (73), Reed Sweigart (71) and Chapman Barnett (78). Because of limited time, only the top three scorers counted; the top four are used at the state tournament level.
Johns Creek counted a 70 from Bruce Murphy, a 71 from James Booker and a 73 from Deven Patel.
Houston Academy of Alabama was third at 223 win a scorecard playoff with Mt. Pisgah.
The medalist was Trey Mixon from First Presbyterian Day School in Macon. He shot a 6-under 66 to earn the title by three shots.
“I’ve been working on breaking through and not freaking out when I get two or three under par,” Mixon said. “When I got there today I decided to keep going and not try to hold on.”
Mixon was able to keep the ball in play and was dialed in with his scoring irons. He had a bogey-free scorecard and rolled in a five-footer for par on his final hole.
Mixon is a senior who has signed with Mercer University. He is a member at the Brickyard in Macon and had worked with former Idle Hour professional Brandon Stooksbury, who left last month to take a position in Metarie, La.
The girls tournament, an individual event, was won by Lambert sophomore Sarah Im, who shot a tournament-record 64 on the Riverside Course. She won by four shots over Carrollton’s Loralie Cowart, a University of Georgia signee. Kate Song of Johns Creek, who has signed with Mercer, was third with a 71.
“It means a lot to me,” Im said. “Two years ago I shot like 83 or 84 here, so I know I’m getting better.”
She shot 6-under on one of the nines thanks to some intrepid iron play. “I was sticking everything,” she said. “Six feet, 10 feet … and I ended up making them, so I’d say it was my ball-striking and putting.
The tournament also awards a pair of $2,500 Sportsman Scholarships in honor of Bobby Jones. The recipients were McKensey Kaseta of Walton and Ben Harrison of Rivers Academy.
McKensey Kaseta of Walton and Ben Harrison of Rivers Academy.
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