Both Fort Mill and Nation Ford golfers qualified for the 5A state tournament in Charleston next week, while Catawba Ridge came up short in qualifying for the 4A state tournament.
Nation Ford finished third in the 16-team tournament. The Falcons shot a 315 as team on their home course of Springfield Golf Club. Boiling Springs won the Upper State tournament with a 312, followed by a 313 from Dorman. Fort Mill was tied for sixth with Riverside shooting a 321. All eight qualifying teams for the 5A state tournament were within 11 shots of each other.
Nation Ford was led by a four-over 76 (39-37) from Ben Mills and was followed with a 78 (39-39) from Ben Wakefield. Colby McCaskill was next with a 79 (37-42) and then an 82 (39-43) from Justin Wosje.
“After a 308 (at Region), I was hoping to be around 310,” said Nation Ford head coach Amelio Rodriguez. “I’m not disappointed with 315. The course is tough. I think it helped being our home course. I think it did.”
Fort Mill also felt like they had a home course advantage as well, despite their home course being played at Tega Cay Golf Club.
“The kids have played here before,” said Fort Mill head coach Judd Dye. “You have to have the right idea of where to hit it off the tee. You expect it to be hard.”
For the Jackets, Fort Mill was led by a three-over 75 (38-37) from Cam Baker. He was followed with a 78 (37-41) from Alex Martin and then a pair of 84s from Austin Anderson (43-41) and Parker Harrigan (41-43).
The 5A state tournament will be held at the Charleston Municipal Course in Charleston May 16 and 17.
In the 4A Upper State qualifier for Catawba Ridge, the tournament was held at The Links at Stoney Point in Greenwood.
The tournament was won by AC Flora with a 296. Catawba Ridge tied for ninth with Travelers Rest with a 343. The Copperheads were led by OT Mitchell who shot a one-over 73 (36-37) and finished tied for third. His score was followed by a 79 (40-39) from Hunter Warren and a 95 (47-48) from Emerson Hill. Parrish Fox finished the scoring for Catawba Ridge with a 96 (47-49).
Both Mitchell and Warren qualified for the 4A state tournament as individuals. That tournament is being held at Forest Lake Club in Columbia May 16 and 17.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
