Defending champions are faring well after the first round of the state golf championships. A half-dozen teams are in first or second place after 18 holes. The tournaments will be completed on Wednesday.
Boys
Class AAAAAAA: Defending champion Mill Creek holds a four-shot lead after the first day at Sunset Country Club in Moultrie behind a 1-under 71 from Georgia Tech signee Luka Karaulic.
Class AAAAA: Starr’s Mill is halfway toward repeating as champion. The Panthers shot 8-over and hold a five-shot advantage of McIntosh at Planterra Ridge. Luke Phillips shot 70 to pace Starr’s Mill. Hogan Ingram of Rome and Jackson Schultz of Ola also shot 70.
Class AAAA: Defending champion Columbus opened with a 10-under and lead Westminster by eight shots after the first round at Achasta Golf Club. Ben Carr shot 67 and Jonathan Parker had a 68 for the Blue Devils. Daniel McKenzie of St. Pius and Buck Brumlow of Cartersville also shot 68.
Class AAA: Sam Lape shot 71 and Drew Ingle shot 73 to give Westminster the first-round lead at Cateechee Golf Club. The Wildcats have a 12-shot lead over defending state champion Pierce County, which got a 69 from Zac Thornton.
Class AA: Led by Will Altman’s 78, Metter took a six-shot lead over Elbert County at Applewood Golf Club. Aiden Ganley of Benedictine and Jackson Toole of Vidalia share the lead at 73.
Class A Public: Tucker Windham shot 75 to pace defending champion Gordon-Lee to an eight-shot lead over Schley County at Double Oaks Golf Club. Hunter Dooley of Hawkinsville and Thad Clark of Schley County both opened with a 74 to take the lead.
Class A Private: A 69 from Bailey Means and a 70 from Cannon Crane gave Holy Innocents’ a two-shot lead over defending champion First Presbyterian Day at Heron Bay. Jay Spivey shot 70 for FPD. Parker Rostowsky of Mt. Paran Christian and William Sluder of Brookstone are tied with Means at 69.
Girls
Class AAAAAAA: Ahra Ko’s 79 was good enough to vault North Gwinnett into first place, six ahead of Walton and eight better than defending champion Lambert at Spring Hill Country Club.
Class AAAAAA: Dalton takes a 27-shot lead into the final day at Jekyll Island. Katelyn Skiffen shot 78 to lead the Catamounts.
Class AAAAA: Defending champion Starr’s Mill, led by Liza Eubank’s 74, holds a 15-shot lead over Veterans. Eubanks leads Mailey Buzzell of Veterans by a shot.
Class AAAA: In one of the most competitive divisions, Woodward Academy holds a 10-shot lead over Central Carroll and an 11-shot lead over White County at Innsbruck Resort and Golf Club. Ayanna Habeel shot 75 and Morgan Ellison added a 77 for the War Eagles. Catie Craig of White County leads individuals with a 74 .
Class AAA: Veterans got a 74 from Eujin Pyon and a 79 from Carroll Pyon and holds a one-shot lead over Bremen at Cateechee Golf Club. Bremen was led by Christian Williams with a 76.
Class AA: St. Vincent’s Academy has a five-shot advantage over Bleckley County at Waynesboro Country Club. Emma Saunders and Rin Richardson of St. Vincent’s each shot 80 to share the lead.
Class A Public: Lake Oconee Academy used a 73 from Katie Scheck to take a nine-shot lead over Gordon Lee at Reynolds Lake Oconee.
Class A Private: Sophia Kalusche shot 76 to help Darlington grab a 10-shot lead over Brookstone at Heron Bay. Emma King of Holy Innocents’ shot 75 to take the individual lead.
