GREENE COUNTY
-
This year’s state championship marked Lake Oconee Academy’s third straight title since 2021, and multiple golfers from both the girls and boys teams earned All-State honors for their hard work. CONTRIBUTED -
Colby Bennett (left) and Kallyn Black won the boys’ and girl’s low-medalist awards for their performances at the GHSA Class A Division II state tournament. CONTRIBUTED
The Lake Oconee Academy boys' golf program was recently able to follow up its impressive performance in the area tournament with dominant showings in this year’s GHSA Class A Division II state championship.
The Titans played consistent golf across both days at the Belle Meade Golf Club in Thomson a few weeks ago, and it came from all players on the roster.
Top Titans’ scorer and low-medalist of the tournament Colby Bennett shot one under par on his first day and followed it up with another 71 the next for an overall score of 142.
He was followed closely by teammate Drew Williams, who shot just two strokes higher than Bennett overall with a 73 on the first day and a 71 on the second.
Titan senior Rhett Smith also broke into the top three after tying with top Aquinas’ golfer Charlie Hargrove for the third spot. Both shot total scores of 154, but Smith’s came from a 75 on the first day and a 79 on the second.
Smith’s teammate, Robert Bosart, finished as the last Titan inside the top 10 after shooting an 84 on the first day and an 80 to finish the second.
Ultimately, Lake Oconee Academy’s top scorers combined for a total score of 302 in the first round and 301 in the second. The Titans ended the two-day event with an overall score of 603 strokes, which was 45 lower than the next-best team.
This year’s state championship marked Lake Oconee Academy’s third straight title since 2021.
Not only that but multiple golfers from both the girls' and boys' teams earned All-State honors for their hard work.
Girls’ low-medalist Kallyn Black joined Bennett in being named the GHSA Class A Division II State Player of the Year for their respective divisions.
The other three Lady Titan golfers that played in the state tournament, Willa Kent, Georgia Bosart and Kensley Windham, all earned spots on the All-State First Team.
For the boys, Smith and Williams also earned spots on the All-State First Team while Halsey Bosart was named as an honorable mention.
With all the accolades both teams have recently brought in, Lake Oconee Academy head coach Chris Ingle couldn’t be happier with where the program is today.
“Lake Oconee Academy is so proud of the golfers who were chosen as part of the GHSA All-State golf teams. This is a tremendous group of young men and women who excel in the classroom, on the golf course, and in the community,” Ingle said. “They continue the tradition of excellence in LOA’s golf program and have set a very high standard for the future players. It is truly an honor to work with them.”