Talk about a hot start.
Homeschooled eighth-grader Addie Lupton, 13, set a new Fort Mill High School record, for boys and girls, with a round of 29 in her first high school match. Lupton shot the 29 with an eagle on the last hole of The Cove at Tega Cay Golf Club on Wednesday, Aug. 12.
The match was against Nation Ford and was the season opener for both schools. The 29 was six under par for The Cove course. The score bested the previous school record by two strokes. It didn’t hurt that Tega Cay is Lupton’s home course, so she is used to playing there.
“I was looking to shoot a low score,” she said. “I have played there a lot, but 29 is a really good score.”
Originally from Wisconsin, Lupton has been playing golf in tournaments since she was 7-years-old and started putting when she was 2-years-old.
Lupton’s golfing has even gotten her to play at Augusta National as part of the Drive, Chip and Putt national finals in 2023. She returned to Augusta in this past spring again for a second appearance in the national finals.
In July, Lupton won the Futures National as part of the LPGA USGA Girls Golf Championship with a 69 in the final round at the Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C.
Fort Mill head golf coach Jeff Bridges referred to Lupton as a prodigy and isn’t surprised that she set the school record so soon.
“I have known her since she moved from Wisconsin,” Bridges said. “I know what she is capable of. She is a great player. She probably has played the Cove hundreds of times, but you still have to get the ball in the hole. It is impressive to do something like that.”
Lupton said the season is off to a great start and is hopeful that Fort Mill will participate in the state tournament. Against Nation Ford, Fort Mill won 161-179 led by her 29. Lauren Venino shot a 40 for the Jackets followed by a pair of 46s from Claire Collins and Skylar Starwell. Nation Ford was led by a 40 from Campbell Reiking, followed by a 42 from Piper Sabino and 45 from Carolyn Miller. Brooke Parker finished with a 52 for the Falcons.
On Tuesday, Fort Mill tied Indian Land at Edgewater Golf Club with a 163. The Lady Jackets were again led by Lupton, who shot a two-under par 34. Collins shot a 41, followed by a 42 from Sartwell and a 46 from Venino.
Lupton and Fort Mill tee it up next in the Lady Bengal Invitational at WildeWood Club in Columbia on Monday, Aug. 17.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
