The Lake Oconee Academy girls golf team competed last week against some of the top teams in the country at the seventh-annual PGA High School Golf National Invitational, July 14-16 at Pinehurst Golf Resort in Pinehurst, N.C.
The field included golfers who had won their high school state championships, whether as part of a team or as individuals from large, small, private, or public schools. Champions in both categories were decided after 32 teams participated in the three-day, 54-hole, strokeplay event.
LOA’s girls placed 18th overall at the tournament, with rounds of 341, 317, and 332 for a total score of 990._
LOA head coach Alan Dodds said he was extremely proud of his golfers after competing against some of the best nationwide.
“We are extremely grateful to the PGA for inviting us to this prestigious event,” he said. “What a fabulous opportunity for our girls to compete at this legendary venue against most of the best high school teams in the country. One day, we played against schools five to 10 times our enrollment from Dallas, Phoenix, and Orlando.”
LOA’s Lili Nelson, a two-time state champion, finished 24th out of 207 golfers. She shot rounds of 74, 70, and 75. Rising sophomore Tianna Chiplock placed 83rd with a total score of 240 after rounds of 85, 75, and 80. Rising juniors Lily Dominy (124th; 253) and Chandler Clark (174th, 278) also competed for the Lady Titans.
The team’s best score came on day two with a total of 317. Nelson birdied the sixth and seventh holes, then made par on holes eight to 18. Chiplock also scored a birdie on the seventh hole, a par-three that measures 150 yards.
Dodds was pleased to see the LOA girls finish strong across the last two days of the tournament.
“Lili Nelson continued a season of fantastic golf with three good rounds. Tianna was one of the youngest girls in the tournament, so a top-100 finish is a significant achievement,” Dodds said. “Lily Dominy was disappointed in her first 18 but came back the next two days with scores in the low 80s. Chandler started slow each day but hung in there with strong finishes. On the final day, she parred four of the last five holes.”
In May, the Lady Titans secured their seventh consecutive Class A Division II state championship. They are on track to contend for an eighth straight title in 2026 since last season’s team had no seniors, so every golfer returns.
Dodds said he hopes the team can finish strong next season and earn an invitation back to the national championship tournament.
“Pinehurst is noted for narrow fairways and crowned greens, and we saw plenty of those,” he said. “Two of the three courses played at just under 5,900 yards, which is a good bit longer than most high school tournaments. With no seniors on our team, we are hoping to get invited again next year and improve our placing.”