The Gainesville High boys golf team combined for a four-man total of 1-over par (289) and sits in second place after the first round of the Class 6A state championship meet Monday at Pine Lakes Golf Club on Jekyll Island. The Red Elephants are three shots behind first-place Johns Creek and seven strokes in front of third-place Creekview, with 18 holes remaining Tuesday in Jekyll Island.
Gainesville’s first round total matched its state-championship effort in 2013, also played at Pine Lakes. The state championship meet is now a two-day, 36 hole event.
“We had a great start with the way we played the first round (Monday),” Red Elephants Bryson Worley said. “We can’t win it on the first day but you definitely can play your way out of it.
“We’ve given our team a chance to win.”
Zayne Hilderbrand notched six birdies and a team-low 3-under par 69 for Red Elephants, while senior Ryan Hogan carded a 1-under par 71. Hall County champion Andrew Hughes, a freshman, carded a 74 for Gainesville, while senior Brody Simmons finished with a 75.
Compiled by Bill Murphy