Pierce County High School Lady Bears Golf team claimed the state Class AA championship Monday, May 22. This year’s championship was held at the team’s home course, Okefenokee Country Club Golf Course.
The vistory makes the Lady Bears back-to-back state champions after they won the Class AAA championship last year.
The girls won the title late Monday as weather concerns mounted.
The Lady Bears’ last player teed off on hole one when they were pulled from the course due to lightning. After a three-hour weather delay, the players returned to a soggy course. The rain returned about halfway through the round, but the Lady Bears did not let the conditions keep them from their goal.
Georgia High School Association (GHSA) made the decision to cancel the second day of the tournament due to weather.
Sophomore Mackenzie Connell was the first Lady Bear to come in with a one over 73, Senior Maggie Sapp was next with a 90, Junior Lily Spivey carded a personal best 82, and Sophomore Addyson Walker carded an 80. In Class AA the 2 lowest scores count for the team which gave the Lady Bears a team total of 153 and a 30 stroke lead over the second place team. The second-place team, Mt. Paran Christian. Mt Paran, a private, Christian school in Kennesaw, had a 183.
Connell was the low medalist for the Class AA tournament with her score of 73. Out of a field of 45 golfers, the Lady Bears had all four golfers finish in the top 10. Connell - first place, Walker- third place , Lily Spivey - fourth place, and Maggie Sapp - tied for 10th place. The Lady Bears also had three players make the Class AA All State team: Walker, Spivey, and Connell. Connell was voted Class AA Player of the Year.
Along with being the state champions, the Lady Bears also won the Area 1 tournament which was played in Adel at Circlestone Golf Course. Lady Bears won with a team score of 163 over second place Jeff Davis’ 179. All four girls finished in the top 10, with Connell being the low medalist with a 75 followed by Maggie Sapp 88, Walker 92, and Spivey 95. They beat out eight other teams to be Area Champions.
Boys golf team finishes 10th
The Bears Boys golf team finished 10th in the state golf tournament held at Okefenokee Country Club. The boys finished with a team score of 374. Low medalist for the Bears was Ellison Kirkland who had a score of 85.
