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THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS • THE COMMERCE NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2106
2016 MainStreet Newspapers
All-Area Golf Teams
GIRLS' TEAM
Rylee at the ready
Banks County’s Morgan Rylee helped lead the
Lady Leopards to four consectuive state tourna
ments. She will play golf at Southern Wesleyan
in 2017.
Plover of the Year
Cierra Gunnin,
Jackson Co., Sr.
Averaged a 41 on nine holes and an 84
in 18-hole matches; shot a career-low 39
twice during the regular season and crafted
a career-best 82 at the 8-AAA tournament
as she finished as region runner up; earned
low-medalist honors in all nine-hole match
es in which she competed this year.
Comment: Cierra Gunnin won her sec
ond-consecutive Jackson County Champion
ship this year and finished seventh in Class
AM. She is a four-year letter winner and
has signed to play golf at Point University.
• • •
McKenzie McRee,
Commerce, Fr.
Was Commerce's low scorer in all but two
matches and led the team at the area and
state tournaments.
Comment: McGee's coach said she has a
tireless work ethic and has grown into a
leadership role on the team.
Morgan Rylee,
Banks County, Sr.
NA
Comment: Rylee, who was an all-state
selection in 2015, will play golf at Southern
Wesleyan. She has also been invited to play
in the GHSGCA all-stargolftournament.
Abby Gower,
Bethlehem Christian, Jr.
Maintained a stroke average of 44 this year
in nine-hole competition.
Comment: Gower, who shot a season-low
42 this year, qualified for state competition.
Alexi Davis,
East Jackson, Fr.
Maintained a stroke average of 51 in nine-
hole matches.
Comment: Davis worked through injuries
during her freshman season. The Lady
Eagles expect big things from her over the
next three years.
Megan Paiter,
Jackson Co., Sr.
Averaged a 51 in nine-hole matches and
carded a career-best 18-hole round at state
with a 96.
Comment: Paiter is a two-year letter winner.
Caroline Martin,
Jefferson, So.
Averaged a 45 in nine-hole matches and an
89 in 18-hole tournaments.
Comment: Martin had a standout season,
according to her coach, helping the Lady
Dragons put together "probably the best
overall season" in program history.
Madison Cornes,
Jefferson, Sr.
Averaged a 44 in nine-hole matches and
was the team's low medalist.
Comment: Cornes'coach said she enjoyed
"a great senior year" in leading Jefferson to
an undefeated season in nine-hole matches
and the team's best finish at state in five
years.
Graci Hollenbeck,
Madison Co., So.
Averaged an 88 in 18-hole tournaments and
shot an 89 at state to finish 20th in Class
AAAA, setting the school's sophomore re
cord; won the 'A' flight at the Georgia Peach
with a round of 84 (the school's sophomore
record for tournament play).
Comment: Hallenbeck led Madison
County in every match and tournament in a
record-setting sophomore campaign.
Meghan Bramblett,
Winder-Barrow, Sr.
Averaged a 91 in 18-hole matches
Comment: NA
• • •
Coach of the Year
Tom Parker, Jefferson
Parker led the Lady Dragons to an unde
feated season in match play, a county
championship, three top-five finishes in
18-hole tournaments and a seventh-place
finish in Class MA, which was the pro
gram's best showing at state in five years.
BOYS' TEAM
Top flight Tiger
Commerce’s Sage Culpepper was the Tigers’ low-medalist throughout the
year. The graduated senior will play golf at Truett-McConnell next year.
Plaver of the Year
Jake Golob,
East Jackson, Sr.
Produced a 38.7 nine-hole scoring average and
a tournament average of 76 as he closed out his
career as the best golfer in East Jackson history
statistically.
Comment: Golob, who finished sixth individually
in Class AM, was the definition of consistency
for his entire career, according to his coach. He
goes down as the best golfer in East Jackson
history and led the Eagles to their best season
ever on the golf course. Go lob's coach described
him as not only a great golfer but a great leader
through his character and academics. Golob is set
to attend Ole Miss this fall.
m mm
Matthew Cheek,
Apalachee
Shot a 77 at sectionals and then an 81 at state.
Comment: N/A
Michael Cook,
Apalachee
Shot a team-low 75 at region to help the Wild
cats secure a spot at sectionals and then shot a
77 at sectionals and an 82 at state.
Comment: N/A
Jamie Wood,
Banks Co., Sr.
Comment: Wood consistently played as the Leop
ards' No. 1 golfer this season. He was the Region
7-MA low medalist with a 79.
Luke Peavy,
Bethlehem Christian, Sr.
Averaged a 38 in nine-hole matches
Comment: Playing in the Knights'no. 1 position,
Peavy shot a season-low 35 this spring, qualified
for state and signed a college scholarship with
Truett-McConnell.
Sage Culpepper,
Commerce, Sr
Was the Tigers' low-scorer in all but one match
and earned low-medalist honors at the area
tournament.
Comment: Culpepper is one of the top golfers in
Jackson County and has been an integral part of
Commerce's success the last four years.
Jeremy Davis,
Commerce, Fr.
Recorded Commerce's second-lowest rounds at
the area and sectional tournaments and earned
low-medalist honors in one regular season match.
Comment: Davis was one of the most improved
in the county and became one of the top players
for Commerce this season. The Tigers will look
to Davis' work ethic and leadership for the next
three years.
Mason Walker,
East Jackson, Sr.
Shot an 86 at state to help lead the Eagles to a
seventh-place finish in Class AAA.
Comment: Walker served as a solid no. 2 golfer
for East Jackson all season and played at the no.
1 and no. 2 spots for the Eagles throughout his
career. Walker, who helped lead East Jackson
to a historic season, is also a peer leader off the
course with his academic work, according to his
coach. He will attend the University of Georgia in
the fall.
Anthony Whobrey,
Jackson Co., Sr.
Recorded a 39.1 nine-hole scoring average and
an average of 78 in 18-hole tournaments and
finished as Region 8-AAA runner-up with a round
of 73.
Comment: Whobrey, who tied Jackson County's
nine-hole school record this year with a round of
34, has signed to play with Andrew College. He
has been nominated to the Class 7\M all-state
team and was Jackson County's Player of the Year
the past two seasons.
Grant Richardson,
Jackson Co., Jr.
Maintained a stroke average of 41 in nine-hole
matches and an average of 81 in 18-hole tourna
ments and won the long drive championship at
the Musketeer Tournament with a 327-yard drive.
Comment: Richardson, who won the Jackson
County Athletic Director's award for his achieve
ments on the golf course and in the classroom,
has reduced his stroke average by three strokes
each year and will be looked to as the Panthers'
team leader next year.
Charlie Jarrett,
Jefferson, Jr.
Recorded stroke averages of 41 in nine-hole
matches and 84 in 18-hole tournaments; finished
as low medalist in two matches.
Comment: Jarrett, who recorded two rounds of 37
this past spring, played in the no. 1 slot for Jef
ferson all year. He is both strong off the tee and
around the greens and is expected to compete for
low medalist honors in each match next year.
Aaron Garner,
Jefferson, Jr.
Finished with stroke averages of 42 in nine-hole
matches and 91 in 18-hole tournaments; finished
as low medalist in two matches.
Comment: Praised by his coach for his improve
ment this year, Garner recorded rounds of 39
(nine holes) and 85(18 holes) as the Dragons' no.
2 golfer. Garner was also the vocal leader of the
team, according to his coach, and will be looked
upon to help Jefferson compete for a spot at
state in 2017.
Bricen Bradberry,
Madison Co., Jr.
Maintained a team-low stroke average of
85 in 18-hole matches this year and was the
top finisher for Madison County at the region
tournament
Comment: Bradberry led Madison County in
most every match this year and was named the
team's MVP.
Bradley Pass,
Madison Co., Jr.
Shot a season-best 38 on nine-holes during a
match this spring and finished with an 18-hole
scoring average of 90.
Comment: Pass proved to be a consistent no. 2
player for the Red Raiders.
Parker Elrod,
Winder-Barrow, Sr.
NA
Comment: Elrod was the team's low medalist this
season.
Will Sorrells,
Winder-Barrow, Jr.
NA
Comment: After finishing as the team's low med
alist as a sophomore, Sorrells was the Bulldoggs'
top scorer at the region and state sectional
tournaments this spring.
• • •
Coach of the Year
Matt Gibbs, East Jackson
Not only did Gibbs lead East Jackson to its
first-ever state tournament, he guided the Eagles
to a seventh-place finish in Class MA.
Athlete of the Week!
sponsored by:
HYMAN BROWN SOUTHERN TRUST
INSURANCE INSURANCE
AGENCY, INC. COMPANY
Morgan Rylee
Graduate
Banks County High School
Rylee was invited to play in the
GHSGCA golf tournament next
week in Moultrie.
HYMAN BROWN
INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.
11 State Street • Commerce
(706)335-3900
