Four top-4 finishes for Central Georgia golfers in GHSA state tournament
Washington County’s Ty Darsey and Thomasville’s Brycen Jones went toe to toe for 18 holes on Monday, and then on Tuesday, tied after 36 holes.
Jones then topped Darsey in a sudden-death playoff – there was no such update from the GHSA, but both schools posted the info – to take home the Class AA boys state title.
Jones won the championship last year.
Darsey was among four area players who had the lead or shared it in their classification after a round, and the only one to maintain.
Andrew Reyes of Perry, though, came mighty close at Houston Lake in Class 4A boys, Luke Koenig taking the title a second-round 66 to Reyes’ 70.
Lucy Weigert just missed, too, despite a disastrous second round of nine bogeys and a double bogey. She lost by one to Abby Bryant of Elbert County, in spite of shooting 83.
Marshall Butler of Stratford got off to a rough start with two bogeys and a double in his first seven holes, and dropped from the lead into a tie for fourth, only three shots back.
Darsey and Jones both shot 71 on Monday and 70 on Tuesday. Darsey had a one-shot lead after the front nine on Tuesday, but Jones birdied one more hole on the back nine, Darsey needing and getting a birdie on 18 to tie.
The tournaments were held at courses throughout the state, including Houston Lake, Healy Point, Southern Landings, and Southern Hills.
Perry’s boys finished second in 4A, and Bleckley County’s girls fifth in AA.
(First-place team, Central Ga. Top-25 or best finishers)
Class 5A
Girls
1. Ware County, 502; 7. Jones County, 593
12. Keegan Goins, Jones County, 182, 37 back, 38 over
Boys
T41. Alex Hayes, Mill, 166, 27 back, 22 over
Girls
T3. Kate Belote, West Laurens, 78;
Boys
1. North Oconee, 576; 2. Perry, 589; 9. West Laurens, 689
2. Andrew Reyes, Perry, 134, 1 back, 10 under; 3. Aren Flanders, West Laurens144, even, 11 back; T5. Cade Wood, West Laurens, 147, 3 over 14 back; T5. Carter Horton, Perry, 147, 3over, 14 back; T8. Aaron Stocks, Perry, 6 ovr, 17 back; T16. Caden Camp, Perry, 158, 14 over, 25 back
Class 3A
Girls
1.Pierce County, 485; 7. Upson-Lee, 609; 12. Mary Persons, 682
15. Makenzie Hicks, Mary Persons, 189, 45 over, 44 back; T20. Kate Andrews, Upson-Lee, 200, 56 over, 55 back; T23. Skye Perdue, Upson-Lee, 202, 58 over, 57 back
Boys
1. Westminster, 557; 12. Mary Persons, 729
T43. Jason Cox, Mary Persons, 172, 28 over, 37 back
Class AA
Girls
1. Lovett, 333; 5. Bleckley County, 360; 6. East Laurens, 406; T9. Dodge County, 440; 11. Washington County, 470
2. Lucy Wiegert, Bleckley County, 155, 11 over, 1 back; 15. Jessi Norris, East Laurens, 195, 51 over, 41 back; T20. Ella Johnson, Bleckley County, 207, 53 back, 63 over; 97; 22. Jami Norris, East Laurens, 211, 57 back, 67 over; 23. 23. Joyanna Rainey, Dodge County, 218, 74 over, 64 back; T25. Mary Knox Brewer, Dodge County, 224, 80 over, 70 back
Boys
1. Lovett, 588; 7. Bleckley County, 690; 8. East Laurens, 709; 9. Lamar County, 711; 11. Washington County, 764
T1. Ty Darsey, Washington County, 141, 3 under; T16. Paul Andrews, Bleckley County, 156, 12 over, 15 back; 79; T20. Everett Home, Lamar County, 160, 16 over, 19 back
Class A Private
Girls
1. Savannah Christian, 290; 6. FPD, 338; 12. Mount de Sales, 426
4. Avery Robinson, FPD, 144, even, 17 back; 21. McKenzie Foshee, Mount de Sales, 189, 45 over , 52 back; T23. Georgia Mercer, FPD, 194, 50 over, 67 back.
Boys
1. Prince Avenue, 580; 7. Stratford, 620; 11. FPD, 690
T4. Marshall Butler, Stratford, 143, 1 under 3 back; T9. Will Culver, FPD, 74; T22. Lawson Andress, FPD, 154, 10 over, 14 back
Class A Public
Girls
1. Lake Oconee, 318; 6. Hawkinsville, 384; 8. ACE, 419
12. Savanna Dokey, Hawkinsville, 190, 48 over, 34 back; 13. Riley Lancaster, Hawkinsville, 194, 52 over, 38 back; T14. Lauren Swan, ACE, 195, 53 over, 39 back; 20. Madi Grace Simmons, GMC 218, 76 over, 62 back; 23. Hannah Kate Forehand, ACE, 224, 82 over, 68 back
Boys
1. Lake Oconee, 604; 9. Hawkinsville, 808