OAKWOOD — Chicopee Woods is not the kind of course that has suited the Gainesville boys golf team over the years.
But the Red Elephants did not let that stop them as they took a 10-shot lead over North Hall Tuesday after the opening day of the Hall County Championships.
Gainesville fired a 154, led by senior and three-time defending champion Spencer Ralston, who shot a first-round low 37 on the Par 36 School course. North Hall shot a 164, led by a 3-over 39 from Brennan Manson.
“We left some shots out there,” Gainesville coach Bryson Worley said. “This kind of course, more of a hit your spots course, plays against our strengths some. But the guys battled. That’s all you can ask.”
Johnson is in third after shooting a 171, Flowery Branch fourth at 182, and Chestatee is fifth with a 188. East Hall (193) and West Hall (202) round out the field.
Ralston’s 37 leads teammate Drew Lasseter (38) by a stroke and 13 players are within four shots of the lead heading into Wednesday’s finale. The Red Elephants have five players in the top 13.
Ralston felt like he had a chance to go lower.
“I missed a few spots and missed a few putts,” he said.
Worley said a 10-shot cushion isn’t much to play with.
“North Hall is real good and they can certainly come out (Wednesday) and put some good scores up there. We will need to play better than we did today,” he said.
In the girls competition, defending champion Johnson is in second at 135, paced by a first-day low of 38 from Jennie Barrett, three shots behind Gainesville, who came in with a 132 on the Mill course.
Defending individual girls champion Macie Hurst of Flowery Branch is two-shots back after carding a first-day total of 40 and is in fourth place.
Flowery Branch is just 11-shots back at 143 in third place while West hall is fourth at 159 and Chestatee is fifth with a 171. North Hall (172) and East Hall (174) round out the field.
A pair of Lady Red Elephants, Ashley Bishop and Vivian Robinson, are one shot back of Barrett at 39. Johnson’s Madison Stewart and Gainesville’s Julianna Towns are six-shots back at 44 and West Hall’s Delaney Smith is in seventh after shooting a 46.
Wednesday’s action will have the boys and girls switching courses with the boys taking on the Mill course and the girls going against the School course.
Worley said the key will be to not focus on what the other team’s are doing.
“You just have to out and play the course to the best of your ability. Whoever does that best will win,” he said.
Day 1 results
Boys
1. Gainesville, 154
2. North Hall, 164
3. Johnson, 171
4. Flowery Branch, 182
5. Chestatee, 188
6. East Hall, 193
7. West Hall, 202
INDIVIDUAL
Top 10
1. Spencer Ralston, Gainesville, 37
2. Drew Lasseter, Gainesville, 38
T3. Brennan Manson, North Hall, 39
T3. Tanner Merck, Flowery Branch, 39
T3. Ryan Hogan, Gainesville, 39
T3. Cody Smith, Johnson, 39
T3. JP Gibson, Johnson, 39
T8. Davis Weaver, Gainesville, 40
T8. Nick Stackis, Chestatee, 40
T10. Bartley Forrester, North Hall, 41
T10. Brody Simmons, Gainesville, 41
T10. Tristan Cooper, East Hall, 41
T10. Tucker Williamson, East Hall, 41
Girls
1. Gainesville, 132
2. Johnson, 135
3. Flowery Branch, 143
4. West Hall, 159
5. Chestatee, 171
6. North Hall, 172
7. East Hall, 174
INDIVIDUAL
Girls Top 10
1. Jennie Barrett, Johnson, 38
2. Ashley Bishop, Gainesville, 39
3. Macie Hurst, Flowery Branch, 40
T4. Julianna Towns, Gainesville, 44
T4. Madison Stewart, Johnson, 44
6. Delaney Smith, West Hall, 46
T7. Jordyn Jasperson, Flowery Branch, 49
T7. Vivian Robinson, Gainesville, 49
T7. Olivia Young, West Hall, 49
T7. Arianna Lunsford, Gainesville, 49
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/3/377671/golf-ghs-boys-girls-take-leads-after-first-day-of-hall-county-championships