PA Golfers Take Third at Region
It was a quality outing at the region tournament for the Piedmont Academy boys golf team on Monday.
The team took third place with the team qualifying for the upcoming state competition.
“I couldn’t be any prouder of our result in region,” Coach Michael Wilson said. “I think that’s the best score by any team I’ve coached has compiled in a region or state competition. Unfortunately, Stratford and FPD are really good squads.”
Kolby Pounds led Piedmont with a round of 68 which was the low round for region. Sawyer Freeman (77), Payton Gallups (82) and Avery McWhorter (92) rounded out the top four. Barrett Downing finished at 102.
“Kolby played almost a flawless round,” Wilson said. “He legitimately had two unlucky bounces that cost him three shots or his 68 could’ve been even three or four lower. Still, he held on to win by two over Stratford’s Phillips Swift. He’s a fantastic golfer and his mental game has grown so much over the last few years.”
Piedmont’s coach said he looks forward to watching Pounds compete at state.
“I can’t wait to watch him compete at state against several high Division I golfers,” Wilson said. “It’ll not only be a great experience for him but I think he can hang around with them. It’s a tall task to win the state, but I know he will have a very reputable finish.”
Freeman turned in his best performance of his varsity career and was rewarded with making the All Region team. His 77 had Freeman tied for fifth.
“He hits the ball well but has struggled with putting,” his coach said. “However, he put it together on Monday.”
Gallups stepped up for the team at the region meet.
“To be in eighth grade and to go out and shoot 82 at a course like River Forest the first time you’ve seen it is amazing,” Wilson said. “His score was a huge help and almost helped us finish second.”
Avery and Barrett are both capable of better rounds, their coach said, but it’s hard to have all five team members excel on the same day.
“I think 1-5 should all be proud of themselves,” WIlson said. “It was another showing in a sport a lot of people probably didn’t expect us to do well in with the move to a higher classification. Heading down to state, realistically, we aren’t in the same class as Rivers Academy or Brookwood who each have three or four power five conference golfers but I do feel if we go down and manage our games and play smart we can finish top 10-15 and shoot a score that would’ve won us titles in the past. We just need to keep plugging and get better every day.”