OAKWOOD — It wasn’t an official passing of the torch, but North Hall sophomore Bartley Forrester’s stunning playoff victory over Gainesville’s Spencer Ralston to win the Hall County Championship had that look about it Wednesday when the two walked off the second playoff hole on the Mill Course at Chicopee Woods.
“He just told me congratulations and that he had fun playing against me,” Forrester said after the two shook hands. “I was kind of in the moment so it was a little hard to believe that I had won.”
“I didn’t really say too much other than nice going,” Ralston said. “He played real well and I hit some loose shots and he took advantage. We’re all friends so it’s nice to see him win it. But of course, I always want to win so I’m disappointed as well.”
Forrester knocked down a clutch par putt on the second playoff hole moments after watching Ralston slide his par attempt just wide. It capped a tremendous 3-under par 33 that began with an eagle on the Par 5 No. 1 and was highlighted by four straight pars after Ralston took a four-stroke lead on No. 2 after Forrester bogeyed the hole. Ironically, it was the hole that Forrester would later capture the title.
A double bogey by Ralston on the Par 3 No. 5, however, opened the door for Forrester and Flowery Branch’s Tanner Merck, who fired a 1-under 35 to force a three-way playoff.
Merck quickly dropped out after a par on the first playoff hole while Ralston and Forrester both drained birdie putts.
"I was a little nervous to start the playoff," Forrester said. "But I hit a good drive and that calmed me down. On that last putt I had a good look at (Spencer's) line and I felt pretty confident I could hit it. I'm still shaking a little. Just happy really."
North Hall coach Alex Hicks said Forrester’s effort was nothing new to him.
“Bartley won the Region 8-AAAA title last year in a playoff so it wasn’t his first time in that situation,” Hicks said. “But I can’t say enough about his effort overall. He had to go up against Spencer for two days and was able to stay poised. He is mature beyond his years.”
Ralston, who has 13 career high school individual titles, came in as the three-time defending Hall County champion, something no one else had ever accomplished, and was trying to pull off a sweep during his high school career.
While Ralston wasn’t able to grab his fourth straight title, he helped the Red Elephants win their seventh straight team title holding off North Hall 311 to 314. Flowery Branch was third at 346.
"Really I'm just happy that we were able to win as a team. That's always my main focus is to do what I can to help the team," Ralston said. "We had some guys really play well for us."
Gainesville coach Bryson Worley said after Tuesday’s opening day that he expected the Trojans to make a run. The Red Elephants led by 10 strokes coming into Wednesday’s final round.
“It took everything we had,” Worley said. “They are a well-coached team and Bartley deserves a lot of credit. But we have some new guys still trying to improve and I was proud of how they just kept battling. Brody Simmons (79) and Drew (Lasseter, 79) really stepped up for us. We still have a lot to work on but they found a way to get it done.”
Lasseter came into Wednesday in second place and was in contention until taking a quadruple bogey on No. 6 to fall of the pace. Johnson’s Cody Smith, playing with Ralston and Forrester in the final group, was tied with Ralston after No. 5 but also fell off the pace late.
The girls competition was just as fierce as the Lady Red Elephants gained a measure of revenge holding off Johnson 278 to 286 to recapture the title after the Lady Knights took the title last season.
“We were reminded a lot that we lost last year,” Gainesville coach Clay McDonald said. “We knew it was going to be a tight match and it was. I thought the girls played well overall.”
It was an especially satisfying day for Gainesville senior Ashleigh Bishop, who took home the low medalist honors after shooting a 5-over 77. She was unable to play last season because of a knee injury and the Hall County Championship was her first action since last year’s surgery. She had never played in the tournament, essentially making it a one-and-done experience.
“Since it was my first tournament back my expectations weren’t really that high,” Bishop said. “I just tried to play the best I could. It’s very special for me since this is my last year and the only time I got to play in it.”
Bishop came into Wednesday one shot back of Johnson’s Jennie Barrett but managed a 38 on the final day while Barrett carded a 42 to finish tied for second at 80 with 2015 champion Macie Hurst of Flowery Branch.
“I’m just as happy as can be for Ashleigh,” McDonald said. “She and all the girls really came through today and held on. We have a lot of young girls who are really still learning how to play at a high level. I just feel good for them.”
Final results
Boys
1. Gainesville, 311
2. North Hall, 314
3. Flowery Branch, 346
4. Johnson, 349
5. Chestatee, 366
6. East Hall, 368
7. West Hall, 413
INDIVIDUAL
Low medalist — Bartley Forrester, North Hall
Top 10
1. Bartley Forrester, North Hall, 74 (won on 2nd playoff hole)
2. Spencer Ralston, Gainesville, 74 (lost on 2nd playoff hole)
3. Tanner Merck, Flowery Branch, 74 (lost on 1st playoff hole)
T4. Drew Lasseter, Gainesville, 79
T4. Brennan Manson, North Hall, 79
T4. Cody Smith, Johnson, 79
T4. Tristan Cooper, East Hall, 79
T4. Brody Simmons, Gainesville, 79
9. Ryan Hogan, Gainesville, 80
10. Michael Kallab, North Hall, 81
Girls
1. Gainesville, 278
2. Johnson, 286
3. Flowery Branch, 297
4. West Hall, 324
5. Chestatee, 344
6. North Hall, 360
7. East Hall
INDIVIDUAL
Low medalist — Ashleigh Bishop, Gainesville
Girls Top 5
1. Ashleigh Bishop, Gainesville, 77
T2. Jennie Barrett, Johnson, 80
T2. Macie Hurst, Flowery Branch, 80
4. Delaney Smith, West Hall, 92
T5. Madison Stewart, Johnson, 95
T5. Kayla Watson, Chestatee, 95
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