Clutch on 18! How Savannah Christian senior stepped up to win third straight girls golf title
Savannah Christian's Mary Miller and Ava Cottis led the Raider girls golf team to its third consecutive state title on Tuesday as the close friends ended up in a playoff to decide the individual champion at the LaFayette Municipal Golf Course.
Miller, a senior who has signed to play at Georgia Southern, parred the 18th hole to win the playoff and walked away with her second straight Class 3A individual title with an even-par 144 in the 36 hole event, with Cottis, the standout junior earning runner-up honors.
Charlotte Goodman shot 206 over the two rounds to contribute with the top three scores counting toward the team total as SCPS ran away to win the title again with a team score of 494. Runner-up Gordon Lee shot 526.
Cottis had a three-shot lead on Miller after carding a 1-under par 71 in the first round, when Miller shot 74. But Miller shot 70 on Tuesday, with Cottis coming in with a 73 to set up the playoff, and a unique scenario for SCPS Coach Annie Keller.
"It was a situation I never thought that I'd be in watching two of our players in a playoff," Keller said. "But I knew I would be happy no matter how it went. It was hard to keep my emotions in check. It's like asking a parent to pick their favorite child — I love them both and am proud of they way they played."
The Raiders' cross-town rival, Savannah Country Day finished in a tie for fifth in the team standings as Auburn-bound junior Kate Barber finished at 16-over for the event (160) and finished fourth, with senior Bryn Sorge, who has signed with St. Francis University, placing sixth with a 166.
In the Class 3A boys tournament, Savannah Country Day finished in a tie for second as the Hornets were led by senior William Whitfield, who finished second with a one-under par 143 over 36 holes, four shots behind the winner Evan Rogers of Hebron Christian.
Sophomore Caden Hartley (157 for a tie for 14th), Dallas Hunter (23rd with a 161) and Charles Morris (26th at 162) also contributed to the Hornets team score.
Calvary Day senior Braylon Royal, who qualified for the tournament as an individual, finished in a tie for sixth at 149.
Benedictine had a strong second round showing as the Cadets rallied to finish second in the Class 4A team standings with a score of 624. North Oconee was the winner at 605 at Highland Country Club in LaGrange.
BC freshman Bear Dollander shot an even par 72 on Tuesday and finished at seven over par 151 for the tournament, tying for second place individually.
Clayton Ruchalski finished in a tie for 15th at 158, with freshman Jack Weeks and senior Whit Watson tying for 19th at 160.
In the Class 7A girls tournament, Richmond Hill was fifth in the team standings with a 501 at Sunset Hills Country Club.
Freshman Alexa Mohler finished ninth with an eight-over par 150 over 36 holes and Amanda Puchales was 14th with a 158.
The Richmond Hill boys squad was ninth in the 7A competition led by sophomore Ledger Conley, who finished tied for 19th with a 5-over par 147.
CLASS 3A
GIRLS
Savannah Christian (494, 1st)
1 — Mary Miller 144 (won in playoff)
2 — Ava Cottis 144
32 — Charlotte Goodman 206
48 — Rylan Hurd 236
Savannah Country Day (544, tied for 5th)
4 — Kate Barber 160
6 — Bryn Sorge 166
40 — Parker Hall 216
St. Vincent's
23 — Tyne Parker 195
Boys
2 — William Whitfield, SCD 143
T6 — Braylon Royal, Calvary Day 149
T14 — Caden Hartley, SCD 157
23 — Dallas Hunter, SCD 161
26 — Charles Morris, SCD 162
43 — Thomas Claiborne, SCD 171
44 — Andrew Messalle SCD 172
CLASS 4A BOYS
Benedictine (624, 2nd)
T2 — Bear Dollander 151
15 — Clayton Ruchalski 158
T19 — Jack Weeks 160
T19 — Whit Watson 160
36 — Hamp Threlkeld 164
CLASS 7A
Girls
Richmond Hill (501, 5th)
9 — Alexa Mohler 150
14 — Amanda Puchales 158
38 — Isabella Romine 193
47 — Carigan Kicklighter 200
50 — Savannah Macomber 203
Boys
Richmond Hill (600, 9th)
T19 — Ledger Conley 147
T29 — Patrick Mahaffey 149
32 — Cooper Reid 150
55 — Will McNeely 156
60 — Porter Fabre 159
67 — Mathew Reynolds 161
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Mary Miller leads Savannah Christian to third straight state golf title
