After coming close the last two years, the Milton golf team was finally able to close the deal and bring home the school’s first state golf championship.
The Eagles, who lost by two shots a year ago, won the Class AAAAA boys championship at Champions Retreat Golf Club on Monday by a single stroke. Milton had a 302, giving coach Peter Vajda’s team a one-shot victory over Benedictine.
“I told the kids to expect to win and to go in there with confidence,” Vajda said. “The course was difficult and we struggled somewhat, but we ended up winning by one, which was all that matters.”
The Eagles were led by Sanders Park with a even-par 72, followed by a 75 from Brandon Lee and 77 from Vanderbilt signee Zack Jaworski. Junior Ian Shapiro shot 78.
Park, Lee and Jaworski are seniors who led the program to three straight Region 6 championships, yet missed a state title by seven shots in 2010 and one shot in 2011. The Eagles won the region tournament by 17 shots, but Vajda didn’t want them to be overconfident entering the championship.
“Anything can happen in an 18-hole tournament,” Vajda said. “If we were playing 36 holes, like they do at most states, I would feel pretty confident. But with 18 holes, you never know what can happen. We learned last year that you’ve just got to play your best and they played great. The kids were highly motivated.”
The medalist was Jonathan Keppler, a freshman from Kennesaw Mountain, who had a 67. He is the son of former Walker Cup member and longtime Marietta Country Club professional Stephen Keppler.
The Milton girls made it a sweep, as freshman Rachel Dai shot a tournament-best 69. The Eagles shot 142 and beat Cherokee by 11 strokes at West Lake Country Club.
Class AAAA boys: Marist won the state championship by one shot over Lakeside-Evans at Jones Creek. Lee McCoy of Habersham Central, who has signed with Georgia, was medalist with a 68.
Class AAAA girls: Stanford-bound Mariah Stackhouse of North Clayton shot a 67 to win the individual title. Evans shot 153 to win the team title by two shots over Lambert at Bartram Trail.
Class AAA boys: Parks Brown shot a 68 to win medalist honors and lead Gainesville to a two-shot win over Richmond Academy at Augusta Country Club and give the Red Elephants their first state title since 1996.
Class AAA girls: Gainesville, led by Morgan Reece's 80, won its first championship since winning back-to-back titles in 2003-04. The Red Elephants shot 166 and beat Carrollton by eight at Applewood Golf Course. Dalton's Brendle Rockholt was medalist with 78.
Class AA boys: North Oconee, led by medalist David Mackey's 65, shot a 303 to beat Westminster at Waynesboro Country Club.
Class AA girls: Medalist Bailey Tardy shot 73 to lead Greater Atlanta Christian to a one-shot victory over Vidalia at Goshen Plantation.
Class A boys: Led by Parker Derby's 68, Brookstone won its third straight championship. Brookstone's 286 team score beat runner-up Aquinas by 19 shots at Forest Hills.
Class A girls: Medalist Anna Buchanan shot 77 to give Athens Academy a one-shot win over Darlington at Pointe South. It was the first state championship for the Spartans.
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