GOLF FINALS: Defending champ Pressley leads area teams, individuals into state finals

The North Hall girls and Cherokee Bluff’s Alisa Pressley will lead a strong contingent of Class 3A girls teams and players into the Georgia High School Association golf finals beginning on Monday around the state.

Each of the eight GHSA classifications will stage two-day events, with 18 holes being played each day at various locations around the state.

The Lady Trojans come into the tournament having posted the lowest score in Class 3A (164) during the Area 3-3A tournament while Pressley is the reigning Class 4A state champion but will go for a second state title in Class 3A this year after the Lady Bears were moved down a classification after reclassification to start the 2024-25 school year.

But the Lady Trojans will have plenty of competition from other northeast Georgia area teams. White County finished second in Area 3-3A with a 173, which was good for the third-lowest score among state qualifiers. Jefferson fired a 174 at Area 3-3A, good for the 4th lowest qualifying score. Southeast Bulloch (165) had the second-lowest score coming into the Class 3A finals. The Class 3A girls tournament is being played at Highland Country Club in LaGrange.

North Hall girls coach Rodney House said they will have to bring their best.

"Jefferson’s No. 1 and NW Whitfield is No. 2, so to come out on top, we’ve got to bring our A-game," House said. "Our focus is on having fun and playing for each other because that’s when we’re at our best."

Staying on the girls side, Habersham Central, Gainesville, and Jackson County in Class 5A all should be in the hunt for top 5 showings or better. The Lady Raiders bring the third-lowest score into the finals after shooting a 246 in the Area 4-5A tournament. 

The Lady Red Elephants shot a 262 in the Area 2-5A tournament, which was good for a tie for fourth in qualifying scores. Jackson County posted a 265 in the Area 2-5A tournament, good for 6th in qualifying scores. The Class 5A girls finals is being held at Sea Island Retreat Golf Course in St. Simons Island.

The Banks County girls will go into the Class A Division finals with the fifth-lowest qualifying score.

For the boys, one glaring omission is the fact that Gainesville did not qualify for the finals in Class 5A. But there will be plenty of other northeast Georgia area teams that will get to shoot for state titles.

In Class 3A, Jefferson fired a 322 in the Area 3-3A tournament, which was the fourth-lowest qualifying score. North Hall was right behind the Dragons, taking second in Area 3-3A with a 324, good for fifth in qualifying scores.

In Class A D1, Banks County, Rabun County, and Commerce all qualified in the middle of the pack.

(Check below for all the teams and individuals that qualified for the various state tournaments in their classifications.)

Cherokee Bluff's Alisa Pressley (shown here during the 2024 Class 4A golf championships) will shoot for a second straight title beginning on Monday, this time in Class 3A at Highland Country Club in LaGrange.

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