Brooks ThomasThe Gordon Lee boys' golf team made history Monday.
The Trojans won the program's first state championship by shooting a 333 at Double Oaks Golf Club in Commerce. That beat runner-up Lincoln County by 11 strokes.
"The kids won today like they've done all year," Trojans coach Ed Clendennin said. "We didn't have a super-low score, but all of our kids were 90 or lower and they played very well."
Trion junior John Rollins was the Class A medalist after shooting a 1-under 71, and Ringgold senior Brooks Thomas won the Class AAA individual championship in a two-hole playoff against two others at Reunion Country Club in Hoschton.
Thomas, who is set to play for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, shot an even-par 72 and won with a 4-foot birdie on the second hole of the playoff.
"Brooks put it in the heart of the cup," said Ringgold coach Slade Queen, whose team tied for 11th at 337. "A lot of his putts early weren't falling, but he shot par."
Waiting about 90 minutes for the final wave to finish turned out to be worth it.
"I was really anxious because I wasn't pleased with my round," Thomas said. "And I knew there were guys out there under par who I thought would beat me. But once [officials] told me to go to the range to warm up, then I knew I had a chance to win."
Rollins won with a birdie on the 18th hole in Commerce.
"It's a huge accomplishment," said Trion coach Doug Wilson, who coached his girls' team to a runner-up finish of two shots behind Schley County and one shot ahead of Gordon Lee.
"John finished the front at 1 over. He got it back to even through 17," Wilson said. "Then he made that birdie to win by one shot."
Dade County junior Chase Cole brought home a runner-up trophy from the Class AA boys' tournament. And North Murray senior Colby Hipp, playing as an individual, shot a 1-over 73 to finish in fourth place in the Class AAA tournament.
The North Murray girls' team tied for second in Class AAA with Jocelyn Blair shooting a 6-over 78 to lead the squad.
"We shot our best score of the year in the state championship," North Murray coach Keith Rabbinate said. "What more can you ask from your kids?"