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Muscle Shoals' Brooklyn Terry lines up a putt on the final hole of the 2013 state tournament. (Todd Thompson)
Shelton Leads St. Paul’s To Class 5A Boys Golf Crown
MUSCLE SHOALS – St. Paul’s senior Robby Shelton fired a five-under-par 67 Tuesday to lead the Saints to the Class 5A boys’ crown at the 64th annual AHSAA State Golf Championships at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at The Shoals.
Shelton had a 66 on Monday and finished at 133 – 11 strokes under par and a new 36-hole state tournament record – to post the lowest score of all divisions, each day and overall. St. Paul’s shot 308 as a team on day two for a 620 team score. First-day leader Russellville finished second at 632.
The previous 36-hole record (135) was set by five golfers including Michael Johnson of Spain Park in 2010, Gator Todd of Coffee in 2004, Mark Donnell of St. Paul’s in 2001, Allan Ritchie of Mountain Brook in 1975 and Bud Smith of Shades Valley in 1974.
Forrest Knight of Chilton County fashioned a 3-under 69 and finished second to Shelton at three-under 141.
Spain Park won the boys’ 6A competition, Guntersville won in 4A, Bayside Academy in 3A and St. Luke’s in 1A-2A. Mountain Brook won the 6A girls title for the third year in a row and the Muscle Shoals girls took the Class 1A-5A championship.
In the other classifications:
SPAIN PARK WINS 6A TITLE: Connor Smith fired a 67 Tuesday to finish with a seven-under-par 137 to lead Spain Park to the Class 6A state championship for the third year in a row.
The Jaguars of Coach Al Del Greco scored a two-day 299-301–600. Spain Park has now won five 6A titles in the last six years and the last two in a row. Auburn was second at 609 and McGill-Toolen, which totaled 301 Tuesday, was third at 610.
Blake Messer of Huntsville shot 71-72–143 to finish second individually. Spain Park’s Vasili Kartos was one of three golfers tied for third at 145 after shooting a final round 70.
GUNTERSVILLE CAPTURES 4A CHAMPIONSHIP: The Wildcats had a 635 to win the Class 4A championship. St. James (641) was second and UMS-Wright (649) third.
Reagan Harrell led Guntersville with a 70-76-145 to tie for medalist honors with first-day leader Cody O’Toole of Oneonta. O’Toole shot a 76 after carding a 69 on Monday for his 145.
Randolph’s Garrett Moores shot a 74 for the low 4A round of the day and finished one stroke back at 146.
BAYSIDE ACADEMY TAKES 3A CROWN: The Admirals finished at 601 to beat runner-up White Plains (635). Lauderdale County (639) was third.
Straughn’s Brooks Rabren shot a four-under 68 on day two to win medalist honors at 140. Eli Marty of Good Hope, who led after day one with a 69, finished with a 78 and finished second at 147.
MOUNTAIN BOOK GIRLS MAKE IT THREE IN A ROW: Mountain Brook had a 224-237–461 to capture its third straight Class 6A championship. Runner-up Auburn was 14 shots back at 475.
Virginia Green of Fairhope won the individual championship with a four-under 68 to finish two strokes under par at 140. LeeAnn Cahoon of Prattville and Sarah Battye of Mountain Brook were tied for third at 149. Cahoon had a 73 Tuesday and Battye shot 76.
EDDY REPEATS AS 1A-5A MEDALIST: Hartselle’s Arin Eddy shot back-to-back par 72 rounds to win her second straight 1A-5A girls’ individual state golf championship. Muscle Shoals High School , however, posted a 502 to claim the 1A-5A girls’ state championship by 12 strokes over runner-up Westbrook Christian (514). Alexandria was third at 522.
Ashton Maddaloni of Elmore County posted Tuesday’s second-best round with a one-over 73 and finished four strokes behind Eddy at 148. Tori Smith of Brooks and Rebecca Chandler of Northside tied for third at 153. Smith shot a 75 Tuesday and Chandler, who had a 74 Monday, finished with a 79.