South Forsyth, Cagle cruise to Big Red Shootout titles

GAINESVILLE -- Grant Cagle says he enjoys playing golf under the modified Stableford Stroke Play system -- in which players are rewarded with points for good play instead of keeping track of strokes.

But the Johnson High standout wasn't about to get caught up in counting his points on Monday in the Big Red Shootout at Chattahoochee Golf Course in Gainesville.

"I went strictly by traditional score this year," Cagle said. "I didn't even know what I had until I finished."

Turns out it was pretty good. Cagle posted a 38, beating out Rabun County's Michael Green via a regressional playoff for the individual crown at the Big Red Shootout (a regressional playoff is determined by who had the best scores in holes played closest to finishing the round).

South Forsyth's golfers also enjoyed the format, posting a 134 to nab the tournament's team title for the second year in a row against a field of 15 other squads.

The War Eagles edged out North Hall by two points. Lumpkin County finished third with a 126.

"We've just been consistent, and that's a big key," South Forsyth coach Matt Loveless said. "We don't have one real standout, but everyone has been playing well."

The War Eagles' Matt Mierzejewski scored a 35 to lead the War Eagles, who didn't have an individual within the top six. But Brian Bowes and Sean Stanfill each recorded 34s to help keep North Hall at bay.

The Trojans were hot on the heels of the War Eagles throughout, putting on a steady display that saw North Hall finish as the only team with five individuals completing rounds over 30 -- Derek Watson and Roger Nash led the way with 34s. Jimmy Lloyd also recorded a 33, while Landry Haynes and Charlie Matthews each recorded a 31.

"We had seen North Hall earlier this season and fell to them in a close match, so we knew they were strong," Loveless said. "But this tournament always presents a strong field."

That includes the two-time champs -- even if South Forsyth did graduate seven seniors from its 2008 Shootout championship squad.

"It's been kind of an unusual year," Loveless said. "But we've really been improving throughout the season."

Loveless also believed Chattahoochee's layout aided his golfers, who opened with an aggressive mindset.

"This is a course you can attack," he said. "I just told my guys beforehand to put it in the fairway and attack the pins. It's always good when feel comfortable about being aggressive."

Lumpkin's third-place finish was paced by Everett Huntsinger and Aaron George, who each fired a 35, while Blessed Trinity finished fourth at 125.

Gainesville and Johnson tied for fifth, each carding team scores of 121.

Jake Martin paced the homestanding Red Elephants with a 36, while Justin Cochran also posted a 32.

But Cagle felt just as comfortable at Chattahoochee, while teammates Josh Foster and Ben Brisbois each chipped in with 28s.

"We're going to be playing here for region and to go to state, so it was nice to play well here and get prepared for the biggest tournament coming up later in the season," Cagle said. "We really, really improved as a team over last season; we had a 30-shot improvement over last year. I think we're going to peak at the right time and really be playing well at the end of the season."

That certainly was the case for Cagle's individual round on Monday, when the Knights standout closed strong on Chattahoochee's No. 4 to claim the individual crown.

"My last hole was my best," said Cagle, who was paired with White County's John Luna, who finished third overall with a 37. "There was a ton of pressure on me, because I was playing with John, and he was playing so good.

"But I hit it within an inch of the pin, and that was a big confidence booster."

Cagle stormed down the stretch, finishing with three birdies -- each worth four points in the Stableford system. A double eagle or ace was also worth 16, an eagle eight, par two, bogey one, and no points for double bogey or over.

"It's fun playing this way; it's a good change," Cagle said -- though the results weren't much different for Johnson's No. 1 this season.


-- 2009 BIG RED RUMBLE TEAM RESULTS
At Chattahoochee Golf Club, Gainesville
Monday, March 30
(Using modified Stableford Stroke Play system)

1. South Forsyth, 134
2. North Hall, 132
3. Lumpkin County, 126
4. Blessed Trinity, 125
5. Gainesville, 121
tie, Johnson, 121
7. Elbert County, 120
8. Rabun County, 118
9. North Forsyth, 115
10. Westminster, 113
11. St. Pius, 108
12. White County, 93
13. Habersham Central, 91
14. West Hall, 82
tie, West Forsyth, 82
16. Riverside Military Academy, 74

TOP INDIVIDUAL PERFORMERS
1. Grant Cagle, Johnson, 38*
2. Michael Green, Rabun County, 38
3. John Luna, White County, 37
4. Jake Martin, Gainesville, 36
tie, Justin Stewart, North Forsyth, 36
tie, Phil Bruckner, Blessed Trinity, 36

*-won by regressional playoff

http://accesswdun.com/article/2009/3/219127