Bad rounds hurt local golfers at state amateur

The Georgia Amateur Championship wrapped up last weekend in Kennesaw, with David Noll of Dalton closing Sunday with a 1-under 71 to post a one-stroke victory over Augusta State University's Thomas Hagler of Ringgold.

This year's state amateur was at Pinetree Country Club, and three Columbia County players competed.

Kris Shepherd, an Evans High School graduate who is a member of the Kennesaw State University golf team, was in the hunt early. He carded an even-par 72 in the first round, and was tied for third entering Friday's second round.

Shepherd added a 74 on day two, good for a tie for 12th, but the course played tougher over the weekend, and Shepherd ballooned to a third-round 83.

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He battled back with a respectable 75 on Sunday to finish with a 304 total (16-over par) to tie for 47th in a field of 150 players.

Former Augusta Preparatory Day School golfer Mason McKnight also qualified for the tournament, and made the cut with rounds of 75-76. After a third-round 74, McKnight was in 41st place, but a bad round Sunday (84) dropped the Augusta State player to a tie for 64th, at 309.

The third Columbia County product teeing it up at Pinetree was Zac Tilton. The 2003 Evans graduate struggled to rounds of 79-80 and missed the cut by six shots.