Local golfers tee it up in state tournament

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 18, 2016

By Kevin Eckleberry

keckleberry@civitasmedia.com

A pair of local golfers capped successful seasons by competing in the GHSA state tournament on Wednesday.

LaGrange’s Blakely Arp was in Augusta for the Class AAAAA tournament, and Troup’s Abby Taylor was in Waynesboro for the Class AAAA tournament.

There were four players in Augusta who were competing as individuals, and Arp tied for third among them.

Arp fired a 90, and she finished tied with Lauren Callahan of Dunwoody.

Julianna Collett of Glynn Academy was the low medalist with a 75, and Dalton won the team title with a 241, edging Columbus (247), which shares Region 1-AAAAA with LaGrange.

Arp shot an 88 in the state sectional to qualify for the state tournament.

Arp will return next season to anchor the LaGrange girls’ team.

Taylor, meanwhile, was able to compete on the state level in two events this school year.

During the fall, Taylor was a standout on the softball team that finished third in Region 5-AAAA to qualify for the state tournament.

This spring, Taylor traded in her softball glove for a set of golf clubs, and she excelled in that sport as well.

Taylor shot a 91 in the Region 5-AAAA tournament to advance, and she didn’t have to play in a state sectional.

On Monday, Taylor shot a 111, placing her third among the players competing as individuals.

Taylor was a part of a Troup team that finished second to Woodward Academy in the Region 5-AAAA tournament.

On Monday, Woodward Academy won the state tournament, and it also had the low medalist in Ayanna Habeel.

Taylor will return to the softball team this fall, and she’ll lead the golf team next spring.

Reach Kevin Eckleberry at (706) 884-7311 or on Twitter @lagrangesports