GREENE COUNTY
Lake Oconee Academy recently hosted its area’s GHSA Class A Division II golf tournament at Harbor Club at the beginning of last week and continued its dominance on the course.
Both the boys' and girls' teams finished first in their respective groups, and head coach Chris Ingle told the Lake Oconee News that it was a great day all around.
“It was a great day with beautiful weather. Harbor Club did an incredible job hosting us, and we had a good field from our area,” Ingle said. “In terms of our teams, they both did really well. Rhett Smith was the low medalist on the guys' side and Kallyn Black was the low medalist on the girls' side. Both teams won by large margins, and we couldn’t have asked for more.”
Smith, the boys’ low-medalist, ended up shooting even on the day with a total score of 72, but the great play didn’t stop with him. Drew Williams was the boys’ overall runner-up with a total score of 74, and teammate Colby Bennett shot a 75.
Black, the girls’ low-medalist, had an outstanding day as well after shooting a 70. She was accompanied by her three teammates Kensley Windham (girls’ area runner-up), Willa Kent and Georgia Bosart, all of which struck the ball well to score low enough to earn them first place as well.
After winning its fourth straight area tournament, both Lake Oconee Academy programs now prepare for the GHSA Class A Division II State Championship which is about a month away.
Even though there is an extended period of time between tournaments, Ingle acknowledged that most of the players work on their own time on top of coming to school practices a few times a week.
“We mainly just practice during this time, but the boys' team has a couple of tournaments before then, and the girls' team will have a few duels against other teams in preparation for state,” Ingle said. “Some of our players on both teams play other sports, and they’re playing in other playoffs right now, so just try to make sure nothing overlaps. Most of them have instructors that they work with also, so they should stay in good shape.”
The boys' team, they have continued to play in invitational tournaments to stay in golf shape. The Titans recently played in the North Georgia High School Shootout at Royal Lakes Golf and Country Club this past weekend and finished eight strokes higher than any other team.
The girls' team will go up against a couple of other teams around the area to also hone in on their skills before the end of the year.
Ingle attributed both teams’ success to the work ethic they put in to get better at the sport, and he believes that can propel them to another state championship for both programs.
“We’ve really just been trying to get out and play when we have the time, trying to focus on our short game around the green and putting,” Ingle said. “Every Monday, the girls' team focuses on work just on the range, and the rest of the week both teams try to get out there and get some swings in, but most of them are so dedicated that most of their instruction comes away from the team.”
Continuing to play a variety of courses will benefit both Titan teams as they prepare for the Class A Division II state tournament.
Both teams also return some championship experience from previous years. Bosart scored for the Lady Titans in last year’s state finals, and the boys' team returns four state championship golfers.
Looking ahead, the state tournament will begin on May 22 and run until May 23. It will be played at Belle Meade Country Club in Thomson.