Panthers top Musketeers by four shots to take region title

Lakeside senior Brant Patton recorded 14 pars on his way to an even-par round of 72 at Jones Creek Golf Club on Tuesday.

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The score was the best of the afternoon for Lakeside, helping the Panthers to the Region 3-AAAA golf title. The Panthers topped Richmond Academy by four shots. Both teams qualified for the state tournament, well ahead of defending state and region champion Westside. Evans finished fourth.

The state tournament is May 3 at Jekyll Island Golf Resort's Oleander Course. Lakeside will try to win the area's fifth consecutive Class AAAA state title.

Since winning state titles in 2006 and 2007, Lakeside had missed the state tournament the past two years. They looked like the top team right away after two of their first three players came in with 75 or better. The Panthers also counted the rounds of Kelby Burton (79), Jack Gibbs (75) and Tyler Duke (77).

"To have four of our six score in the 70s at a place like this -- they did well," Lakeside coach Bill Richey said. "They were saying the greens were as hard as they could be. It hadn't rained in about three weeks. ...These guys have been hungry, and this is well worth it."

Freshman Greyson Sigg and Martin Manning both had 76 to lead Richmond Academy. The Musketeers had four players shoot 78 or better, but that consistency still was not enough to overtake the Panthers. Westside had only one player break 80 -- sophomore Davis Parker (79). The Patriots finished 22 shots behind Richmond Academy and nine shots better than fourth-place Evans.

Patton, whose family are members at Jones Creek, went out in 1-under 35, but lost his chance to come in under par on the par-4 16th.

Hitting just a wedge from the fairway of a 327-yard hole, he said the wind caught his ball and knocked it down short of the green. He failed to get up and down from there for a bogey 5. He finished with two birdies and two bogeys to go with his 14 pars.

"I was happy with 72. It was a good score out there," said Patton, a Georgia College &State recruit whose best round here (69) came last fall. "But I left a lot of putts out there on the course. They were easy putts. I had four or five lip-outs, otherwise it could have been really low."

Cross Creek senior Larry Floyd shot a 1-under 71 to earn medalist honors.

Also winning a region championship last week was the Greenbrier boys and girls golf teams.

Both teams took the Region 2 AAAAA crown at tournaments in Covington, Ga. They now will play at the state tournament starting May 3 at Reynolds Plantation.