The Gainesville boys used a hot start, coupled with a rough beginning for second place North Hall, to run away for the victory, posting a tournament-record 299 to beat the Trojans by a whopping 18 strokes. North Hall trailed the Elephants by just six shots entering Tuesday's final round but was able to hold Flowery Branch by a stroke, 317 to 318.
For the girls, Morgan Reece won an individual duel with West Hall's Malorie Smith to lead the Lady Elephants to a 158-170 win over the Lady Spartans. Both Reece and Smith fired identical 41s with Reece winning the individual title by one stroke with a finishing 78.
Gainesville boys coach Bryson Worley said it was a fun day to watch his group. The Elephants' Parks Brown won the individual title with an even-par 72 over the two days.
"Our depth is a real strength and I think we showed that," Worley said. "They came out relaxed and just played like they are capable. I challenged Parks before the tournament to play like he is capable and I thought he did a great job."
North Hall helped the Elephants in the early going shooting a combined 15-over on the first hole on Tuesday.
"We got off to a horrible start and never recovered," North Hall coach Robert Mills said. "But we finished strong and that helped us beat Flowery Branch. But Gainesville is very strong and deep and I don't know that a good start beats them anyway."
The Elephants' Grant Lasseter and Flowery Branch's Eric Little finished second shooting 75 apiece. Pep Brown and Jackson Bishop, both from Gainesville, finished with 76. Those four, along with Brown, made up the All-Tournament teasm.
North Hall's top two finishers were Ryan Matthews and Jackson Berry with identical 78s.
In the girls competition, the Lady Elephants pulled away from West Hall with three of the top four finishers. Meg Callahan fired an 83 and Madeline Harr an 84 for Gainesville and they along with Reece and Smith made up the girls All-Tournament team.
Gainesville girls coach Clay McDonald said he was proud of how his young team handled the pressure as the front-runners.
"We start three sophomores and a freshman so I was real pleased with how they responded to the pressure. It was a tough day out there and they played pretty well as a group."
Gainesville's Parks Brown won the individual title at the Hall County Championshps at Royal Lakes Golf Club Tuesday.
Gainesville's Morgan Reece won the girls individual title Tuesday at the Hall County Championships at Royal Lakes Golf Club.
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