Morgan County girls golf achieved one of its best finishes in program history last week at the Class AA state match.
The Lady Dogs finished third overall in their classification behind Pierce County and Hart County with a score of 362. They totaled a score of 188 after the first day, but finished strong with a 174 in the final round.
“I’m so proud of this team for finishing third at state,” Morgan County head coach Allyson Ozburn told the Lake Oconee News. “Last year, we were top 10, and to come back this year and place in the top three shows just how much growth and dedication these girls have put in. They competed with heart and never backed down. It was a performance that truly reflected the hard work they’ve put in all year.”
Morgan County freshman Bailey Mitchell had a solid outing at the state tournament, finishing seventh overall at 180 across two days. She shot a 91 on day one but finished two strokes better at 89 in the final round.
The Lady Dogs also had a strong performance from senior Hailey Westmoreland. She finished tied for ninth place, just two strokes behind Mitchell, with a score of 182. She recorded a 97 on the first day and an 85 in the final round.
Senior Mia Copelan and freshman Madison Summers also participated in the state tournament.
Morgan County’s girls had a strong regular season, finishing first in the Area 1-AA tournament, ahead of Columbus and Jackson. The Lady Dogs drew motivation from their area title to perform well at the state level.
Ozburn acknowledged that she wasn’t surprised her golfers stepped up and answered the bell last week. She said her girls battled through adversity all season long to reach that point.
“This team has accomplished a lot this season,” Morgan County’s first-year head coach said. “The girls worked hard from the start and really came together as a team. We participated in multiple tournaments, earning a second-place finish at the Parkview Invitational and a first-place finish in our area tournament. Watching their growth and the way they supported each other every step of the way made this season really rewarding.”
Morgan County lost Westmoreland and Copelan to graduation, but returns a strong core of golfers next season, which includes Mitchell and Summers. They will also bring back a few younger girls who will contribute.