Brookwood (13-0) defeated four strong teams, who of them defending state champions, to win the Blue Angel Invitational in Pensacola, Fla. The Broncos defeated Oxford, the 5-A Mississippi champions, 9-0; defeated Bolles School, the Florida runners-up, 9--0; Vestavia Hills, the 6-A Alabama champions, 7-2; and Pensacola Catholic, 5-4. Brandon Mills, Will George, Zach Jennings, David Brown, Will McWhirt and Ryan Pridgeon played singles for Brookwood in the tournament. Anthony Porcelli and Ryan Pridgeon (No. 1), Brooks Berry and Daniel Drake (No. 2) and Matt Bullock and Jacob Mallow (No. 3) were the doubles teams.
Mills, a Presbyterian commitment who is ranked No. 21 in Georgia 18s by the USTA, is back in the lineup after concentrating on tournament tennis the last two years. He combined with Brown as freshmen to play No. 2 doubles and help the Broncos win the 2011 state championship.
Girls golf: Norcross’ Tardy second at Whitworth Invitational
Bailey Tardy, a junior at Norcross, finished second in the Kathy Whitworth Invitational Junior Girls Championship in Fort Worth, Texas. Tardy is one of the most accomplished juniors in the state and has already committed to play at Georgia. Tardy shot 67 in the first round and followed that with a 72 at the Mira Vista Country Club to tie Floridian Nelly Korda for first place. Korda then prevailed in a playoff. The tournament is hosted by Whitworth, who set a career record for professional golfers with 88 wins. Roswell's Rinko Mitsunaga, the only other participant from Georgia, tied for fourth at 140. ...
Madeline Harr held off teammates Meg Callahan and Morgan Reece and helped Gainesville win the Hall County Championship. The three teammates tied at 84 and Harr made a birdie on the first playoff hole. Callahan was the defending champion. Ashleigh Bishop, who was medalist at the Spring Swing, shot 87. West Hall finished second and North Hall, led by Haley Twiggs with 88, was third. … Taylor Marie Griner of Colquitt County shot 77 and was medallist at the Maple Ridge Junior Girls Classic in Columbus. Griner has signed with Dalton State.
Boys golf: Gainesville wins Hall County title
Gainesville won the Hall County Championship at Royal Lakes. Spencer Ralston was medalist for the second straight year. He shot a 3-under 69, a score that included a 60-foot eagle putt. Ralston, a sophomore, has already committed to Georgia. Teammates Nathan Williams shot 70 and Jackson Bishop, who has signed with Western Carolina, shot 75. North Hall finished second and Flowery Branch was third. … Colquitt County won the Trojan Invitational at the Grand Island Club in Albany by two shots over Northside Columbus. Colquitt's Tyler Key and Eli Stripling each shot 74. Valdosta's Tyler Dallas was medalist with a 72.
Girls Tennis: Fowler leads loaded Westminster
The defending Class AA champion Westminster girls have another strong team. Wildcats coach Scoot Dimon has 14 players that he says could probably earn a spot on most high school tennis teams. "Even with a strong team you never know how far you are going to go in the region and state playoffs because Region 6-AA is very strong and our region opponents give us all we can handle," Dimon said. Senior Julie Fowler has played No. 1 singles since her freshman year. Carol Elizabeth Kerman is playing No. 2 singles, even though she's only a freshman. Simrun Mithwani has been reliable at No. 3 singles. The Wildcats have seven or eight girls who have rotated in and out the starting doubles lineup. … Buford swept East Hall and improved to 7-0. Maria Jose-Ferreyros, Annalee Stevens and Bayley McCammon won singles matches.
A new golf and tennis blog is posted each Tuesday and Friday morning. Send any news, notes and names to stan@stanawtrey.com.
