GOOD HOPE – Cullman's Luke Wilson was ready to get back to the golf course after last week’s spring break. His performance in the Good Hope Invitational at Terri Pines Country Club Monday backed it up.
The Cullman senior, who has signed a scholarship with Wallace State Community College for next year, carded an even par 72 in winning the individual crown. Wilson had to deal with a challenge by three underclassmen from Muscle Shoals High School and a local rival, Good Hope's Cole Pearson.
Hunter Battles, Brant Bishop and Jordan Wheeles of Muscle Shoals were just four shots off the pace of Wilson, firing a 76 for the day. They were tied for the runner-up berth with Karlan Trull of Fayette County.
But combine the three scores and add an 82 from Sam Gargis, and Muscle Shoals was well ahead of the rest of the competition with a team score of 309. Donoho and Fayette County were a distant second at 339, Brooks in fourth place with a 340.
Cullman was sixth in the team field with a 357; Good Hope claimed ninth with a 363. Thirteen varsity teams played on the final Monday in March under sunny skies and temperature in the low 60s.
Six varsity girls’ teams battled it out with the top three scores counted in team play. That worked out well for Fairview as the Lady Aggies had 286, thanks to an 88 from Dalys Mullican and a 91 by Maci Yeager.
The Lady Aggies were 14 shots ahead of Cullman, who scored a 300. Cullman was separated by good distance from Arab for the runner-up position. Arab had a 320, then the field featured St. John Paul, Priceville and West Blocton from fourth to sixth position.
Brandi Ruehl from Cullman tied Fairview's Yeager for third in the individual scoring. Ruehl had a 91. The medalist in this division was Stephanie Fowler from American Christian Academy in Tuscaloosa, who had a 3-over par 75.
Muscle Shoals took the JV division and Cullman was at the top of the leaderboard in JV girls.
Alex Michael Burnett of Muscle Shoals performed well in the JV division with a 3-over par 75. His team carded a score of 327.
Cullman's JV girls had a 348 to roll by Fairview to the top, with the Lady Bearcats led by Lindsay Morrison with a 109.
Muscle Shoals is coached by Derrick Gargis, who played baseball at Wallace State Community College from 1988-89. His son Sam is just a freshman on the Trojans' varsity golf team and had an 82 to help them dominate the field.
TP Country Club has technically become a home for Good Hope golf under new coach Joey House, who used to be the head man of the Hanceville Bulldogs. The Raiders had a match against Cordova at TP last week, will play half of the Cullman County Tournament there on April 12 and will host an AHSAA Class 4A sectional there on April 26.
Wilson and the Bearcats will be back at TP next Monday for the Bert McGriff Invitational.
