Golf: Johnson boys, Gainesville girls win Hall County Championships

OAKWOOD –- While most of the gallery at the Hall County Golf Championships was following the threesome of Grant Cagle, Jimmy Lloyd, and Justin Cochran, Josh Foster was quietly stealing the show.

The Johnson sophomore fired a 1-under par 35 on the treacherous back-nine at Royal Lakes Golf Club Tuesday to finish with a 75 and steal the individual boys medalist title by one stroke over first-day leader and teammate Cagle and Jake Martin of Gainesville.

In the boys team competition, Cagle sank a putt in darkness to give the Knights a thrilling one-stroke win in a one-hole playoff over North Hall for their second straight Hall County title. The two teams’ tied with team totals of 310 after regulation.

Johnson coach Jeff Steele said it was a good two days for his team, which featured the only golfers to shoot 35 in the event.

“We felt like we had a good shot at winning it but to see Josh have that kind of round is excellent,” Steele said. “We know Josh is capable. He is tough on himself but I think he showed he can compete at this level. Grant didn’t have his best round (Tuesday) but he hit the putt to give us the win. We don’t win it without him.”

In the boys competition, Gainesville (320) was third, Riverside Military Academy (340) fourth, and West Hall (344) rounded out the top five. Flowery Branch (361) was sixth, Chestatee (390) seventh, Lakeview Academy (417) eighth, and East Hall (446) finished ninth.

Foster and Martin were the only players to shoot under-par on the second day in the boys event.

“I was very surprised,” said Foster, who birdied two of the final five holes after a bogey on No. 13 to overcome a six-shot deficit with five holes left. “I was playing well but I was really just trying to play for the team. I hit some good shots and didn’t make too many mistakes. It feels great to win it.”

Cagle led by two strokes over North Hall’s Lloyd after the first day but both golfers struggled on their rounds Tuesday. Both bogeyed two of the first four holes through No. 13, where Foster was six shots off the pace. Cagle finished 3-over on the final four holes after consecutive three-putts and Nos. 16 and 17.

Lloyd finished with a 75 but was penalized two strokes after it was discovered he had grounded his club during a practice swing on No. 13 and was officially carded with a 77.

In the boys’ individual tournament, after Foster, Cagle, and Martin, North Hall teammates Lloyd and Derek Watson, along with Cochran of Gainesville, each shot a 77 to finish tied for fourth. Defending champion Will England of West Hall and Charlie Matthews of North Hall each fired a 78. Roger Nash of North Hall shot a 79 and the Trojans’ Landry Haynes shot an 80 to round out the top 10.

For the girls, Gainesville junior Cameryn Cole shot a 42 to complete a two-day total of 85 to repeat as the individual medalist title. The junior was the only player to shoot under 100 as she led the Lady Elephants to the team title with a total of 194 to beat West Hall (215). Johnson (226) finished third and North Hall (235) was fourth.

“It feels good to win it again but the most important thing is that we won as a team,” Cole said. “This is the toughest course we will play this year so for us to do this well as a team is good. Hopefully we can keep getting better.”

Cole was 22 shots better than second place Natalie Mathias of West Hall, who finished with a 107. Mathias’s teammate, Hannah Derthick was third with a 108, Lauren Mumpower was fourth with a 112, and Cole’s Gainesville teammate, LeeAnn Noble, shot a 113 to finish fifth.

Gainesville coach Clay McDonald said he thought his team’s effort Tuesday showed him a lot.

“We were only up three strokes after (Monday) so to come out and play two strokes better today was very pleasing to see,” McDonald said. “The girls made the shots when they needed to and I am proud of their effort. As far as Cameryn, I think she is improving mentally with every event. She really knows how to think her way around a course and I think she will only continue to get better.”