EVANS — There were no moments of overwhelming emotion and very little fanfare.
In the end, Spencer Ralston played out his final tournament with Gainesville High golf as he had so many previous outings: a calm grace belying yet another impressive performance from the gritty competitor.
The highly-decorated senior did not get the team title he so craved, nor the low medalist honor that eluded him over four seasons, but Ralston still finished tied for fourth individually at the Class AAAAA championship at Bartram Trail Golf Club in Evans -- closing out a four-year stint that few prep players have approached, even at a program as illustrious as the Red Elephants'.
"It really kind of hit me on the 17th; I've known him since he was eight years old, and watching him finish up his four years was something special," said Gainesville boys golf coach Bryson Worley, who watched Ralston shoot his way to a 1-under, 71. "He's definitely the best I've ever coached."
(NOTE: Click here for a look at how other area teams fared on Monday in various state championships in the Augusta area.)
A scorching performance from Columbus and its No. 1 Nolan Miller sent the Blue Devils to the top of an extraordinary field in Evans -- Miller's 6-under 66 netting low medal honors, while Columbus shot 282 as a team, 14 strokes better than Lakeside, Evans' 296.
Gainesville finished with a team score of 307, tied for eighth. And that was perhaps the only real disappointment for Ralston, who will continue his career at the University of Georgia next season.
"I tried to go low for my team and started well, but I didn't really get a lot going after the seventh-eighth hole," said Ralston, who was 3-under through eight but could not shrink that number after recording three bogeys over the back nine. "I played well today, but I also had three penalty strokes (on the back nine), and it takes a lot to come back from that."
Gainesville's lone senior led a young Red Elephants squad -- as he has all season -- with sophomore Ryan Hogan also carding a 75 and junior Davis Weaver putting up a 78.
"We knew in this field that we would have to play really, really well to win, and I think that made it even tougher on a tough course," Worley said. "Our young guys have got to learn how to score under pressure; they've got the talent. But we'll get to work on that starting next week, and we'll fix it. There's a lot of good coming with this group."
There is also plenty leaving with the graduation of Ralston.
"He was like an assistant coach this year, always trying to help the other guys get better," Worley said. "And I know I'm going to miss those 65s he puts up -- but, more than that, I'm going to miss him as a person. He handles himself with such class. And we've had plenty of other guys who have done that here before. But when you're one of the best in the world doing that, it really rubs off on the whole program."
As for Ralston, the finality of the moment had only begun to set in.
"Mostly I'm going to miss the team chemistry, particularly the off-the-course stuff, like traveling with the guys and hanging out before and after tournaments," Ralston said. "Today was all about the golf. I had my last day of school last Friday, and it kind of sunk in a little bit then -- that I wouldn't be coming back."
There is plenty of golf ahead for the graduate, including state amateur tournament qualifying on May 31 before reporting to Athens, but there is little doubt he will always carry a piece of Red Elephants golf with him. And certainly Gainesville will watch his progress with pride.
CLASS AAAAA BOYS GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
Monday, Bartram Trail Golf Club, Evans
TEAM TOP NINE FINISHES
1. Columbus, 282
2. Lakeside, Evans, 296
3. Cambridge, 298
4. Starr's Mill, 299
5. Greenbrier, 300
6. Northgate, 304
7. Dalton, 305
8. Gainesville, 307
tie, McIntosh, 307
TOP TEN INDIVIDUALS
1. Nolan Miller, Columbus, 66
2. Brady Keran, Creekview, 70
tie, Drew Duffie, Greenbrier, 70
4. Spencer Ralston, Gainesville, 71
tie, Rudy Pearson, Columbus, 71
tie, Preston Wagaman, Lakeside, Evans, 71
7. Ben Carr, Columbus, 72
tie, Brock Nixon, Allatoona, 72
9. Daniel Davis, Columbus, 73
tie, Robbie Bentley, Cambridge, 73
Nathan Garner, Northgate, 73
