TIFTON — In its first foray in the state’s largest classification, the Gainesville boys golf team managed a fourth place finish after Tuesday’s final round of the Class 7A championships at Springhill Country Club.
The Red Elephants sat third after an opening day 322 but despite shooting one shot better (321) in the final round, five of the teams in the 12-team field managed lower scores as the Red Elephants compiled a two-day total 643.
Milton (598) won the title holding off Lambert (614) who finished second. West Forsyth shot a second round 315 to jump over Gainesville into third with a 639.
Gainesville’s Ryan Davidson was among nine players within three shots of the lead coming into the final round but tied for seventh (7-over, 151) just six shots behind champion Craig Long of Milton (1-over 145).
Sam Patterson finished tied for 14th for Gainesville with a two-day 12-over 156.
WILDCATS FINISH 3RD IN CLASS 2A
COCHRAN — The Rabun County boys could not hold on for the runner-up finish in the Class 2A golf championships at Southern Hills Golf Course.
The Wildcats held a nine-shot lead over Pace Academy coming into Tuesday’s final round. But the Wildcats were 18-shots (331) off their own first day total (313) as Pace fired a 311 total on Tuesday to nip the Wildcats by 11 strokes.
Lovett, which held just a 14-shot lead over Rabun after the first day, fired a 294 to finish at 593, 40 shots better than Pace.
Connor Horton and Garrett Horton each shot 153 to pace the Wildcats.
TIGERS TAKE 3RD, NORTH HALL 8TH IN 3A
HARTWELL — Dawson County finished third in the Class 3A golf championships on Tuesday at Cateechee Golf Course.
The Tigers shot a 336, 12 strokes higher than Monday’s 324, but that was more than enough cushion to hold off fourth place Coahulla Creek (680) and fifth place Morgan County (683).
It was not enough, however, to overtake second place Richmond Academy (625), who was just four strokes ahead of the Tigers after the first round. Westminster claimed the title with a two-day total of 598.
White County’s Jacob Adams, playing individually, finished in a three-way tie for sixth after firing an even-par 71 on Tuesday for a 147 total. Dawson County’s Andrew Hughes climbed four spots to finish ninth (154) while the Tigers’ Alex Hughes finished in a tie for 12th with North Hall’s Colin Henderson (159).
North Hall finished eighth with a two-day total of 702.
BUFORD TAKES 6TH IN CLASS 6A
CARROLLTON — Neither Jackson Buchanan nor the Wolves could make a move on Tuesday in the final round of the Class 6A championships at Sunset Hills Country Club.
Buford shot a 302, eight shots better than its first round total, to finish with a 612, but could not crack the top five as Dalton (603), Cambridge (605), and Creekview (607) -- the three teams in front of the Wolves within striking distance -- were able to match them on Tuesday.
Johns Creek won the title with a 5-over 573 for the two days.
Jackson Buchanan fired a 1-over 72 on Tuesday to finish 1-over 143 but that was only good for fifth place in a talented field paced by Lee County’s Brantley Baker, who followed his Day 1 3-under 68 with a final round 67 for a 7-under total 135 to win by two strokes over Deven Patel of Johns Creek.
TIGERS TAKE 6TH IN CLASS A PUBLIC
GREENSBORO — Commerce could not make a move on Tuesday in the final round of the Class A Public championships being held at The National Course at Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro.
The Tigers came into the final in sixth and finished sixth after a Tuesday total 363 to finish with a 749.
Henry Sharpton made a huge jump for Commerce, finishing in a tie for 12th after shooting a 78 on Tuesday for 21-over, 165 total. He started the day in 22nd place.
Host Lake Oconee Academy won the title with a two-day total 608, which beat second place Metter (648) by 40 strokes.
DRAGONS STRUGGLE TO 7TH PLACE FINISH IN 4A
ATHENS — After shooting a first day 304 to sit third, the Dragons struggled to a final round 326 to finish seventh Tuesday in the Class 4A championships being held at the University of Georgia Golf Course.
Fellow Area 4-4A foe and host North Oconee rolled to the title with two-day total 585, which was good enough to beat second place Marist (609) by 24 shots.
Jefferson was just one shot behind Marist coming into the final round.
Jefferson’s Micah Webb also struggled on Tuesday. He was third after shooting a 1-over 72 on Monday but finished with an 80 on Tuesday to drop out of the top 10 and into a tie for 11th. The Dragons Tanner Bronnum also began the day in the top 10 but fell to a tie for 27th after shooting an 85 on Tuesday.
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