GHSA Golf Championships
When: Monday
Format: 18 holes stroke play
Sites: Class AAAAAA – boys at Spring Hill CC, Tifton, girls at Sunset CC, Moultrie; AAAAA – boys at Pine Lake, Jekyll Island, girls at Indian Mounds, Jekyll Island; AAAA – boys at Dalton G&CC, girls at Nob North, Cohutta; AAA – boys at Reunion GC, Hoschton, girls at Chateau Elan; AA – boys at Rocky Creek CC, Vidalia; girls at Hawks Point CC, Vidalia; A Public – boys at Double Oaks CC, Commerce, girls at Highland Walk, Royston; A Private – boys at Savannah Quarters CC, girls at Crosswinds CC, Savannah.
The Colquitt County boys have an opportunity to bring the state golf championship back to South Georgia.
The Packers, who won their last championship in 2006, have the depth necessary to win the team title. Other than Lowndes in 2011, a metro Atlanta team has won the boys title in the state’s largest classification in five of the last six years.
Colquitt could alter that trend on Monday at the Class AAAAAA tournament at Spring Hill Country Club in Tifton. The Packers won the Region 1 championship with all six participants shooting in the 70s. Eli Stripling was the low man at 75, but consistency among the entire team is the key to a team championship.
Colquitt will be tested by a strong field that includes Lowndes, Coffee, Harrison, Roswell, Johns Creek, Lambert, Peachtree Ridge, Grayson and Brookwood. Milton is the defending champion.
The Milton girls team, winners of the state’s highest classification a year ago, is among the favorites at Sunset Country Club in Moultrie. The Eagles are led by junior Kayla Jones, the region medalist. But the favorite may be Colquitt County, which has three girls who shot in the 70s at the Region 1 tournament, including Mercer signee Marin Hanna.
This year the tournaments are spread throughout the state, from Savannah and Jekyll Island to Dalton and Commerce. All tournaments are 18 holes of stroke play. There are six boys on each team, with the best four scores counting toward the team total. There are three girls on a team, with the best two scores counting toward the team total.
This is the first year that that private and public schools in Class A have had separate competitions. Private schools had won nine of the last 10 boys tournaments and seven of the last 10 girls tournaments. In Class A Private, the Brookstone boys will be favored to win their fourth consecutive state title. The Cougars are led by Georgia Tech signee James Clark and University of Georgia signee Parker Derby.
Missing on Monday will be Ashlan Ramsey, the top female player in the state. Ramsey, who has signed with Clemson, attends Milledge Academy, a GISA school. Ramsey was the runner up at the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship last summer and recently made the cut at the LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship.
About the Author
