Wanting to play a good round of golf a week before the postseason begins, the Cullman Bearcats did that Monday afternoon in claiming the title in the Bert McGriff Invitational at Terri Pines Country Club,
With Connor Stevens and Sylas Elliott shooting close to even par, the Bearcats ran away from the competition in the 18-hole event with a score of 315, finishing 11 shots ahead of runner-up Tuscaloosa County.
After winning his third consecutive Cullman County title last week, Good Hope senior Eli Marty returned to Terri Pines Monday and improved his performance with a 3-under par 69. Marty shot a 3-over 75 last week that was good enough to keep him on top of the leaderboard.
The Raider senior credited of having a better Monday in his putting than he did in the final round of the county tournament. “I didn’t have to scramble around the course like I did last week in the county tournament,” Marty said.
In the 17 years this tournament has been held and named in the honor of McGriff who will go into the Cullman County Sports Hall of Fame Saturday night, Cullman won it for the second time in the past three years.
Last year’s champion, Russellville, was not part of the event this time around.
Stevens had the second lowest round of the day, a 1-over par 73. He led his team to the championship title with Elliott finishing with a 3-over 75. Colby Stricklin had an 81 while Lee Mattox rounded out the total for the host team with an 86.
Robert Noergaard’s 76 led Tuscaloosa County who finished with a 326. Preston Jones scored a 78 for the Wildcats with Corbin Holt having an 88 and Logan Wright an 89.
Cullman County Tournament winner Holly Pond took fourth on the day with a 341. The Broncos got an 81 by senior Colby Adams and Hunter Walker while Braiden Walker shot an 84 and Dawson Foust a 95.
Good Hope was tied for fifth with West Morgan at 342. Following the 69 by Marty for the Raiders was Cole Pearson with an 83, Alex Cofer with a 94 and Anthony Harlan a 96.
Fairview claimed seventh by a score of 371. For the Aggies, Trey Hanvey shot an 82, Austin Scott a 93, Hunter Whitehead a 95 and Seth Lancaster a 101.
Cold Springs’ senior Layne Rice played as an individual and wound up with a 5-over par 77, the same score he shot in the final round at TP last week in the county. That earned Rice a position on the All-Tournament team.
Cullman will host the 5A Sectional next Monday at the Cullman Golf Course. Cold Springs will serve as host for the 1A-2A sectional the same day at CGC.
Fairview will be playing the 4A Sectional at Chesley Oaks on Monday while Good Hope, Hanceville and Holly Pond will head to Cullman Golf Course for the 3A Sectional next Tuesday.
