JEKYLL ISLAND — The Pierce County duo of Mackenzie Connell and Mollie Kate Dixon placed second here Saturday in the annual Glynn Academy Red Ryder Invitational two-person scramble on the Pine Lakes Course.
Connell and Dixon posted a five-under score of 67 to finish three strokes behind Lake Oconee Academy’s blistering eight-under-par score of 64 in the March 1 tournament. The Lady Bears’ duo recorded six birdies to climb to within a shot of the leaders. A bogey by PCHS and a birdie by the Lady Titans provided a three-shot difference.
“It was a great day for us,” said head coach Stuart Stipe. “We competed against some of the best girl’ golf teams in the state and had a lot of fun and made some great memories. We gained some valuable tournament experience that you can’t get in matches nor at practice.
“I was really proud of the way Mackenzie and Mollie Kate backed each other with crucial shots when they needed them most.”
There were 27 schools represented featuring 67 teams in the tournament field. The field included Lake Oconee Academy, Pierce County, Prince Avenue, Blessed Trinity, Camden County, White County, Seckinger, Allatoona, Richmond Hill, Hart County, Lowndes, Tift County, host Glynn Academy, Evans, Elbert County, Southeast Bulloch, Mt. Pisagah Christian, Brunswick, Metter, Effingham County, South Effingham, Coffee, North Paulding, Colquitt County, Parkview, Grace Christian and Grovetown.
Six teams finished under par and three played to an even score of 72.
Prince Avenue and Blessed Trinity tied for third with three-under scores of 69. Camden County was fourth with a 70 and White County was a shot back at 71. Seckinger, Allatoona and Richmond Hill each finished with 72s.
The Pierce County team of Belle Sinclair and Chloe Lynn finished in a threeway tie for 19th with Southeast Bulloch and Mt. Pisgah Christian with rounds of 78. Sinclair and Lynn posted six bogies with no birdies on their card.
Brooke Dixon and her partner from Grace Christian carded an 89 to tie for 46th.
“Belle and Chloe started off slow but played the last 12-13 holes 1-over,” Stipe said. “We can win with that effort. Brooke was paired with a first time player from Grace Christian and was the perfect partner. She showed her new friend how the Lady Bears compete with the character of Jesus Christ.”
The Lady Bears participated in a fourteam match Tuesday, May 4 at Laurel Island Links in Kingsland against Camden County, Brunswick and Glynn Academy.
Their next tournament is Saturday, March 15 at the Maple Ridge Junior Classic being held at Maple Ridge Golf Course in Columbus.
