GAINESVILLE, Ga. — The Gainesville boys and North Hall girls came into what was expected to be a tighter field in the 2023 Hall County Golf Championships looking to repeat.
Despite being pushed on the opening day of the two-day annual event, both did not disappoint during Wednesday’s final round at the Chattahoochee Golf Course.
The Red Elephants pulled away from Lakeview Academy while the Lady Trojans held off Cherokee Bluff for a second consecutive year to take team titles.
Gainesville fired a 300 to the Lions’ 310, the second runner-up finish for Lakeview in three seasons. The North Hall girls shot a 275 to nip the Lady Bears, who finished with a 279.
After holding a slim 2-shot lead over Lakeview after the opening day, first-year Gainesville coach Jason DeJiacomo said it was just a matter of getting back to the basics.
“The first day, we just played outside of ourselves and what we have been doing on this course,” DeJiacomo said. “We should know this course like the back of our hands, so for me, it was just us playing the course the way we know how. Lakeview pushed us. This was a good win for our group.”
Gainesville was paced by a 73 from Brigham Ralston and a 75 from Colin Henderson. Henry Kopydlowskit and Nick Greene both shot 76 as all four finished in the top five in the individual tournament.
Lakeview’s Tanner Stephens shot a blistering two-day 68 (4-under) to capture the program’s second-ever individual crown. Grey Bell was Lakeview's first individual champion.
“It feels pretty good. A big win for the team as a whole,” Stephens said. “I putted well on the greens and hit the ball pretty well overall both days. Feels nice to be the first one to do that. I think everyone’s game is coming along pretty well right now.”
For North Hall, coach Rodney House’s group has now won four straight titles.
The Lady Trojans were led by MaKayla Jones, who shot an 86, and Lillie Mallis, who fired an 88. Morgan Whidden (101) and Logan Griffin (110) both shot season-best rounds.
“I think our depth played a big factor for us, but Bluff really pushed us both days,” House said. “We played better (on Tuesday) and really just kind of hung on at the end. They beat us last week (in a tournament) pretty good, so it feels good to be able to get this one. It gets harder every year to repeat.”
Cherokee Bluff’s Alisa Pressley was able to defend her individual title, shooting an 82. But it looked doubtful after the opening hole on Tuesday. The sophomore twisted her knee and nearly had to pull out of the tournament.
“I don’t really know what happened, but I couldn’t bend after that,” Pressley said. “I couldn’t read putts for the first three or four holes. I thought about (dropping out). But I took some medicine and just decided to try and fight through it. I felt a lot better today.
“It’s a tough tournament every year, so to win it again is just a great feeling. I just wish we could have found a few more shots to get that team win.”
2023 Hall County Championships
Team scores (FINAL)
Boys
1. Gainesville 300
2. Lakeview Academy 310
3. Cherokee Bluff 320
4. North Hall 322
5. Flowery Branch 373
6. Chestatee 393
7. Johnson 431
8. East Hall 468
9. West Hall 494
Girls
1. North Hall 275
2. Cherokee Bluff 279
3. Flowery Branch 341
4. East Hall 347
5. West Hall 356
6. Gainesville 367
7. Johnson 417
Individual leaders
Top 10 boys
1. Tanner Stephens, Lakeview Academy 68
2. Brigham Ralston, Gainesville 73
3. Colin Henderson, Gainesville 75
T4. Nick Greene, Gainesville 76
T4. Henry Kopdlowski, Gainesville 76
T6. Carter Kontour, Lakeview 78
T6. Jason Wyrick, Cherokee Bluff 78
T6. Wyatt Lee, North Hall 78
9. Grant Scroggs, North Hall 79
T10. JT Chester, North Hall 80
T10. Chandler Lovell, Lakeview 80
T10. TJ Harris, Cherokee Bluff 80
T10. Caleb Vancil, Cherokee Bluff 80
Top 5 girls
1. Alisa Pressley, Cherokee Bluff 82
2. Makayla Jones, North Hall 86
3. Lilly Mallis, North Hall 88
4. Samantha Roper, Cherokee Bluff 93
5. Morgan Whidden, North Hall 101
