Alabama high school golf: 20 Gadsden area golfers to watch in postseason
The Alabama high school golf season has entered the postseason with sectional tournaments starting on Monday.
Gadsden area boys teams in Class 3A-4A won't have to travel far with Twin Bridges Golf course hosting the Section 3 tournament on Tuesday, April 30. In Class 5A, the section 3 tournament will be held in Guntersville, encompassing all four of the Gadsden area teams. Twin Bridges will host a sub-state tournament in Class 5A on the boys side and in Class 4A-5A for girls, while RTJ-Silver Lakes will host sub-state for boys Classes 3A and 4A and girls Class 1A-3A.
The state tournament will be on May 13 and 14 at the Robert Trent Jones at the Shoals course in Florence. Westbrook Christian will be looking to defend their state title in Class 3A.
Here are some of the top Gadsden area golfers as the postseason kicks off.
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Boys
JD Berndt - Westbrook Christian
Why Chosen: Berndt shoots in the mid to high 70s for the Warriors, as part of their strong top four as they look to repeat.
Jaxson Bush - Etowah
Why Chosen: Bush averages in the mid-70s to low-80s.
Tyler Coley, Fort Payne
Why Chosen: Coley has been averaging 77 on the year and won the Brooks Invitational with a 73 last week.
Noah Dabbs - Boaz
Why Chosen: Also a freshman, Dabbs averages in the mid-80s.
Eli Edge - Westbrook Christian
Why Chosen: Edge has been Westbrook Christian's No. 1 all season and averages around par. He took home the Gadsden area invitational title.
Noah Ford - Boaz
Why Chosen: Ford rounds out Boaz's trio of promising freshmen. He averages in the mid-80s.
JP Groat, Fort Payne
Why Chosen: Groat has been averaging around 75 this season and won the Fort Payne invitational with a score of 72.
Justin Lovoy - Southside
Why Chosen: Lovoy has a 73-stroke average on the season and finished second at the Gadsden area tournament.
Eli Martin - Cherokee County
Why Chosen: Eli has a 3-handicap and finished third place this season as an individual low medalist at the Brooks Invitational at RTJ Shoals shooting a 76. He finished second place at AJGO at Goose Pond and third place at the sub-state qualifier at Silver Lakes last season.
Cove McHugh - Westbrook Christian
Why Chosen: McHugh shoots in the mid-to-high-70s for the defending Class 3A champions.
Kameron Naylor - Etowah
Why Chosen: Naylor has averaged in the high-70s to mid-80s this season.
Braden Phillips - Boaz
Why Chosen: Phillips is shooting in the mid-80s as a freshman for the Pirates this year.
Nolan Terrell - Westbrook Christian
Why Chosen: Terrell is a much-improved member of the defending 3A champions.
Girls
Makayla Bearden - Hokes Bluff
Why Chosen: Bearden shot a 78 to start the year and has averaged in the low-to-mid-80s since then.
Kate Bowman - Westbrook Christian
Why Chosen: Bowman is one of the top girls golfers in the area and averages in the mid-80s.
Mallory Brooks - Southside
Why Chosen: Brooks has a stroke average of 76 this season and has taken home three straight Gadsden area tournament titles and will look to defend her sectional title from last year.
Emma Jones - Boaz
Why Chosen: Jones won the Marshall County Tournament Individual Low Medalist with a score of 79 and was named all-county.
Velvie Smith - Boaz
Why Chosen: Smith also shot a 95 at the Marshall County Tournament to tie with Watford for third-place and joined Watford and Jones in being named all-county. The Boaz Lady Pirates finished the season with a perfect 18-0 match record.
Kenley Staats - Hokes Bluff
Why Chosen: Staats averages in the mid-to-high-90s.
Gracie Watford - Boaz
Why Chosen: Watford tied for third place at the Marshall County Tournament with a score of 95 and was an all-county selection.
Maxwell Donaldson covers high school sports and Jacksonville State athletics for the Gadsden Times. Find him on Twitter/X @_Max_Donaldson and contact him at MDonaldson@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: 20 Gadsden area high school golfers to watch in the postseason
