Prep wins state, Evans wins region in golf
For the Augusta Preparatory Day School golf team, the only numbers that matter are the ones on the scorecard.
The young Cavaliers delivered low digits to win the Georgia Independent Schools Association Class AAA state tournament last week in Albany.
Augusta Prep freshman Clayton Boardman scorched Stonebridge Country Club with a 6-under 66 to seize medalist honors and pace the Cavs to the championship.
Jefferson Knox shot 74, Alexander Abate had a 76, and Rob Bennett added a 77 to round out the four-counting scores and give Prep a team total of 293, which was good for a seven-shot margin over Stratford Academy.
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B. Avery shot 80, but gladly joined in the Cavs' championship celebration.
Augusta Prep golf team members Rob Bennett (from left), Jefferson Knox, Clayton Boardman and Alexander Abate with coach Bill Fowler and their state title trophy. Not pictured is B. Avery, who also played at state.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
There could be more titles to toast in the coming years - along with Boardman, Knox and Bennett also are freshman, Abate is a sophomore, and Avery is a junior.
"We're only going to get better," Boardman said.
Augusta Prep has a strong golf tradition, including a state title in 2000, but this year's team was a question mark. The answer was emphatic, as the Cavaliers easily won region, and then kept pulling off the shots at state.
"We all started playing good, and it just happened to be in the big tournaments," Knox said.
Really, Prep played solid the entire season, despite losing six seniors from last year's squad.
"Last year we played pretty well at state, but we just got beat," Abate said. "This year seemed different. Everybody was so confident."
Meanwhile, Tuesday in Atlanta, the Evans High School golf teams had a sweet showing at Sugar Creek Golf Club.
The Knights posted a 294 to capture the Region 7-AAAAA crown by 30 shots.
Zac Tilton fired a 69 to lead the Knights to the title, and the senior also snagged region-medalist honors. Evans freshmen H.B. Chavous placed second with a 73, while Todd Greene and Ben Hyman each shot 76 to round out the four counting scores. Chad Muns came in with 78, and Adam McKenney shot 80.
Evans junior Kristen Bragg claimed Region 7-AAAAA medalist honors with a 78. She and teammate April McNeely paired to to take second place in the team standings, which earned them a trip to the beach.
The Knights and Lady Knights qualified for the Class AAAAA state tournament, which will be played May 12 at Jekyll Island.
"It's the first time I've ever taken both teams to state in the same year, and they earned their way," Evans coach Mike Bibee said. "I'm happy for the kids. They played to their potential."