Golfers fare well in Monday tourneys

Lakeside and Evans High golf teams fare well in tournament play last week, with Lakeside's Panthers capturing third at Monday's AAAA State Tournament at Fields Ferry's in Calhoun, and the Evans Knights coming in seventh in tournament play Monday at Jekyll Island.

Lakeside

Lakeside finished with a score of 301 for the Par 72 course, followed closely by Woodward Academy in forth place with a score of 304. Hardaway won second place with a score of 298.

Only a few strokes ahead, Dalton won the competition at 292, with Dalton's Matt Hughes taking home the Individual Medalist award after scoring 69 for the course.

Lakeside's team members' scores were Narayana Gowda (73), Payne Kassinger (74), Ryan Blackburn (75), Barrett Blackburn (79), Jordan Riner (80), Matt Bielewicz (85).

Lakeside's Coach Jay Gilstrap was pleased with the season.

"We performed well at the Region Tournament," he said. "We were leading the State Tournament at the turn, and without a few mistakes on the back nine, we might have even won. The young men came together towards the end of the season, and were playing very good golf.

"I didn't want to see the season come to an end, especially the way they were playing. We will miss Narayana Gowda next year."

On the future of Lakeside's golf team, Gilstrap said, "with five of our top six returning, and with several who will compete for the top six next year, I am encouraged about the future of Lakeside Golf. We will be getting some quality players from the Middle School programs, and some improving underclassmen will make it challenging to make the top 10.

"Next year, with the reshuffling of the regions, we will loose Burke County, and gain Evans as one of our local competitors. Evans will be very competitive ... they have several returning quality players. Statesboro also will return with several quality players."

For the season, Lakeside finished with 10 wins, three losses and two ties in head-to-head matches. They placed 13th at the Joe Wyatt Invitational and second in the Region Tournament, with Ryan Blackburn winning the Medalist award.

Evans High

In the 36-hole region tournament, Adam McKenney led the Knights with scores of 73 and 75. Zach Lawless finished with a score of 75, and Will Johnson with a score of 77. H.B Chavous scored a 76 and 79, and Ryan Penfield scored 77 and 79. The boys scores combined totaled 612 for the Knights.

Adam McKenney finished as one of the top ten players in the tournament with his individual score of 148.

Glynn Academy took home the first place title with a score of 569 (a state record).

The lady Knights also had a good day, finishing 11th in a field of 15 in their 18-hole tournament.

Kristen Bragg posted a 76 to lead the Knights. Her score was good enough to tie for the seventh place individual spot in the tournament. Chrissy Price contributed a score of 112, for an overall total for the lady Knights of 188.

Glynn Academy took home the first-place title, scoring 140 (a state record). Both Evans boys' and girls' finishes were the best since the boys won the state title in 1986 and the GHSA started the girls' program seven years ago. All members on the boys team were underclassmen this season. The girls team will miss Kristen Bragg next year as she moves on to attend Augusta State University.

"I am very proud of my team this year," Coach Mike Bibee said. "We played to our potential in the biggest tournament of the year. All the local matches we played were in preparation against tough competition for the only tournaments that truly matter in high school golf, your region, and if you are good enough - the state tournament."

As for next year, Bibee said he was "looking forward to next year with the new challenges our new AAAA region will bring. I have been lucky enough to visit Jekyll Island for the tournament six years in a row. I'll miss the trip to the beach, but I won't miss seeing Glynn Academy in those red shirts teeing it up against us."