Briarwood golf team qualifies for state

TROY -- The Briarwood Christian School boys golf team qualified for the state tournament, thanks to its second-place finish at the Class 5A sub-state tournament on Monday at the Troy Country Club.

The Lions finished second behind St. Paul's, who scored a 303 to win the tournament. Briarwood carded a 327, led by junior Matthew Herritt's 79 and eighth-grader Andrew McCary's 82. Senior Spencer Russell, eighth-grader Slade McCraw and freshman Cooper Blevins each shot an 83. 

At the section tournament, the team shot a 318, and the low round during the season was a 312.

"We'll have to get close to that to compete at state," said Jim Brown, who serves as the boys and girls golf coach at Briarwood. "We are excited to be back at the state tournament after missing the sub-state last season."

The state tournament is set to be held next Monday and Tuesday, May 15-16, at the Grand National Golf Course in Opelika.

The Briarwood girls reached sub-state in the team's second year of competition, and shot a 320, including Annamarie Thompson's best competitive round to date, as she shot 83. Grace Elliott, Caroline Branche and Ansley Azar also competed for the Lions in the tournament.

"It was quite an accomplishment for the girls to reach sub-state in only their second year of competition," Brown said. "All four showed significant improvement over last season."

Spain Park girls qualify for state

The Hoover and Spain Park high school girls golf teams finished first and second, respectively, at the North Sub-State Tournament on Tuesday at Canebrake Club in Athens, to qualify for the state tournament.

Spain Park edged out Hoover in the section tournament last week, but Hoover rebounded to win the sub-state tournament, clipping Spain Park by three strokes.

Spain Park scored a 219, led by low medalist Jordan Susce's 68 (-3). Samford signee Mary Kate Horton wrapped up her day with a 74, followed by junior Caroline Waldrop's 77. Marilyn Steed shot an 85.