CLARKESVILLE — One day after securing the Hall County Championship, the Gainesville boys golf team finished second in a challenging field at the Apple Mountain Invitational on Wednesday.
The Red Elephants fired a 4-under 284 at the 5,902-yard Par 72 course, which was five shots off tournament champion Prince Avenue Christian, who ended with a school-record 9-under 279. Rivers Academy out of Alpharetta shot a 295 for third. North Gwinnett shot a 299 and North Forsyth a 300 to round out the top five in the deep 19-team field.
Gainesville was one of just three teams (Prince Avenue and North Forsyth) to have all four scoring players shoot in the 70s on the day.
“It was a super deep field and we knew we would have to be around par or better to have a chance,” Gainesville coach Cameron Millholland said. “Prince Avenue is a defending state champ who just came off a strong showing at Currahee, so I wasn’t surprised with their play.”
Freshman Henry Kopydlowski paced the Red Elephants with a 2-under 70, which was good for third overall in the individual honors. Brigham Ralston and Wiley Hickerson both shot 1-under 71s and Ryan Davidson carded an even-par 72 for the Red Elephants top scorers to all finish within the top 12 on the leaderboard.
“We left a few shots out there, but I’ll never be disappointed with going under par as a team,” Millholland said. “Henry I think is going to be a special player. Mentally, he’s as impressive as they come. He carries himself as a seasoned veteran on the course.”
Host Habersham Central fired a 311, which was good for sixth place overall. Rabun County was eighth at 317 and Dawson County finished in a tie for ninth with Mill Creek after shooting 320.
Will Baker of Prince Avenue, a Clemson-commit, fired a blistering 8-under 64 to win the individual meet. Wade Watson of Rivers Academy shot a 68 for second place. After Kopydlowski and Isbell, Ralston and Hickerson finished in a five-way tie for fifth place that also included Jack Rowe of Habersham. Davidson finished in a three-way tie for 10th overall.
TEAM SCORES
1. Prince Avenue Christian, 279
2. Gainesville, 284
3. Rivers Academy, 295
4. North Gwinnett, 299
5. North Forsyth, 300
6. Habersham Central, 311
7. Alpharetta, 312
8. Rabun County, 317
T10. Dawson County, 320
T10. Mill Creek, 320
11. Buford, 327
12. Lakeview Academy, 328
13. Brookwood, 335
14. North Hall, 336
15. Hart County, 349
16. Madison County, 350
17. White County, 364
18. Stephens County, 387
19. Tallulah Falls, 424
(BOLD are Northeast Georgia-area teams covered by AccessWDUN)
INDIVIDUAL SCORES
1. Will Baker, Prince Avenue, 64
2. Wade Watson, Rivers Academy, 68
T3. Henry Kopydlowski, Gainesville, 70
T3. Cole Isbell, North Forsyth, 70
T5. Wiley Hickerson, Gainesville, 71
T5. Brigham Ralston, Gainesville, 71
T5. Parker Houck, Prince Avenue, 71
T5. James Douglas, Prince Avenue, 71
T5. Jack Rowe, Hab Central, 71
T10. Ryan Davidson, Gainesville, 72
T10. Drew Sacia, Rivers Academy, 72
T10. Juan Monckeberg, Alpharetta, 72
http://accesswdun.com/article/2022/3/1090570/golf-ghs-boys-take-2nd-at-tough-apple-mountain-invitational