Two Region VIII-AAA boys golf teams qualified for the state tournament at Monday’s Lower State Championship at the International Golf Club in Murrells Inlet.
But the bigger news may be the two teams that failed to advance to next week’s state tourney – region champion Socastee and runner-up Myrtle Beach.
Despite placing first and second at last week’s region tournament at Black Bear, the Braves and Seahawks stumbled at the Lower State tourney. Myrtle Beach shot 342 and Socastee shot 360 to miss the cut for the top eight qualifiers.
After non-region foes AC Flora (312), Chapin (315) and Hilton Head Island (315) took the top three spots, tournament host St. James claimed fourth place at 324. Alan Crum shot 78, Ryan Crum and Lyle Ciardi shot 79s and Mason Richardson added an 87 for the Sharks to advance to state.
Following fifth-place Bluffton (324), North Myrtle Beach turned in a solid round of 330 to place sixth. John Graves fired a 77, Will Morrison shot an 82, Will Donohoe carded an 85 and Daniel Graves added an 86 to lift the Chiefs past final qualifiers Hartsville (332) and Midland Valley (333).
Myrtle Beach had a disappointing day in which no Seahawks shot in the 70s. Kohler Karavan (82), Michael Loftis (85), Mark Karavan (87) and Ethan Wood (88) ended their seasons in the Lower State. So did the Braves, who got an 84 from David Dudleck, 88 from Zach Hickman, 93 from Thomas Garavito and 95 from Ryan Case.
Darlington’s Chase Bailey earned medalist honors with a 73.
- Photo courtesy of SJHS Athletics
