Golfers swing into top 10 at state
By Anne Marie Kyzer annemariek@thetruecitizen.com

Senior Buck Bell became the first Burke County golfer to play in four state tournaments during high school. Contributed

Both the boys and girls golf teams at Burke County High School claimed top 10 finishes at the Georgia High School Association's AAA state tourna- ment last week.

The boys team finished in eighth place with a 313 at Hawk's Ridge Golf Club north of Atlanta. Junior John Keller shot a 73 to place sixth individually.

Senior Buck Bell, who shot a 76, became the first Burke County golfer to play in four state tournaments and topped off his career as part of the first Burke County boys team to win the region championship.

"I was proud of Buck," coach Wade Marchman said. "He shot his lowest round at a state tournament in his four years."

Junior Logan Fairley recorded an 81, and junior Josh Phillips shot an 83 to round out the team's score.

Marchman said the team shot three over their goal of 310 and blamed it mostly on a rough front nine.

"I feel like that stretch of six holes got us," he said. "To shoot a very good score, we needed to play those holes well. A lot of the kids got off to a rough start but then settled down and went on to play well."

Still, Marchman acknowledged that the team will have plenty to build on next year.

"We have a good nucleus of players returning ... five lettermen," he said. "We're definitely going to miss Buck, and one of the other guys is going to have to step up and fill his shoes."

The Burke County girls team finished up in 10th place after shooting a 225 at the Trophy Club in Alpharetta.

Junior Mallorie Shaw led the Lady Bears with her 112 and was closely followed by freshman Morgan Quick's 113.

While Marchman acknowledged that the Burke County girls will return all of their players next year, so will their stiffest region competition, Thomson. This year Thomson snatched the region championship from the Lady Bears, who won it last year.

"We've had different girls step up at different times during the year," Marchman said. "Our girls will have to continue to play during the summer and get more involved with junior tournaments to take that region crown back next year."

He called the state tournament a good experience for all the players and was proud of the support he saw from their parents, most of whom traveled with the team to state.

He also thanked the Waynesboro Country Club for supporting the golf teams throughout the season.