Augusta has long been the focal point of golf in Georgia because of the Masters. This year the city has expanded the focus to include high schools and will serve as the host for each of the state’s boys and girls golf championships.
With plenty of area golf courses to choose from – sorry, but Augusta National isn’t in the rotation – the area will host all ten championships on Monday.
“I started thinking that we could do something like this a couple of years ago,” said Wade Marchman, the athletic director at Burke County and coordinator for the event. “I know the pros at all the courses and they all jumped on board, so I thought, ‘Why not?’”
Marchman, who is accustomed to running sectional tournaments for the Georgia State Golf Association, has the goal to create a unique event with high standards.
“We want the Class A girls to feel just as important as the AAAAA boys,” he said.
Here’s a look at the favorites in each classification:
Class AAAAA boys at Champions Retreat Golf Club: Zack Jaworski, the Region 6 champion, leads a strong Milton team, which hopes to improve on last year's third-place finish. They should be challenged by the usual suspects: Lassiter, Walton, Colquitt County and Newnan.
Class AAAAA girls at Westlake Country Club: Defending champion Colquitt County is back, but not favored. Milton, third last year, leads a strong group of contenders that includes Cherokee, Walton and Harrison.
Class AAAA boys at Jones Creek Golf Club: Lakeside Evans, led by Emmanuel Kountakis, may have a slight local advantage. But Northgate, Johns Creek and Marist are all loaded. The top individual is Georgia signee Lee McCoy of Habersham Central.
Class AAAA girls at Bartram Trail Golf Club: North Clayton's Mariah Stackhouse, a Stanford signee, is the individual to beat. Lambert, runner-up last year, returns Sloan Shanahan and should compete with Ola, Lakeside and Ware County. Katy Harris of Glynn Academy returns to defend her medalist title.
Class AAA boys at Augusta Country Club: Georgia Junior champion Greyson Sigg leads Richmond Academy in its challenge to dethrone Columbus, led by Charlie Flowers. Woodward Academy, led by Sam Fishman, and Spalding, led by Jake Harpe, should also contend. Pep Brown, who shot 66 to win Region 8, leads a strong Gainesville team.
Class AAA girls at Applewood Golf Course: This is expected to be wide open, with challenges coming from Columbus, Woodward Academy, Dalton and Gainesville.
Class AA boys at Waynesboro Country Club: Defending champion Westminster is expected to mix things up with North Murray, North Oconee and Blessed Trinity, the team it beat by two strokes at the Region 6 meet.
Class AA girls at Goshen Plantation Golf Club: Vidalia, led by Region 2 medalist Katie Dalton, is favored to repeat. Contenders include: Calhoun, led by Kaitlyn Smith; Elbert County, led by Hannah Barger; and Greater Atlanta Christian, led by Bailey Tardy.
Class A boys at Forest Hills Golf Club: Reigning champion Brookstone is loaded with talent like AJGA All-American Parker Derby and Region 4 medalist James Clark. A challenge is expected from Mount Paran Christian, Athens Academy and Aquinas. Other top individuals include Patrick Sherlock (Aquinas), Kyle Mueller (Athens Academy) and Tyler Shamblin (Seminole County).
Class A girls at Point South Golf Club: Defending champion Darlington, led by 2011 medalist Hannah Mae Deems are the favorites. Athens Academy, with Ana Buchanan, and Holy Innocents' should contend. Sarah Gilliard of Bacon County, playing as an individual, will be among the favorites.
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