Boiling Springs and Chapin headline AAAAA qualifiers

By golfclubsc on May 9, 2022 • ( Leave a comment )

The defending SC AAAAA Champions from Boiling Springs finished on top of the Upper State Qualifying tournament at Fort Mill. The Bulldogs nipped Dorman by a shot for the top team finish and Andrew Gregory posted the top individual score. (Boiling Springs photo)

Boiling Springs is in a good position to defend its AAAAA State Championship after finishing as the top team in the Upper State qualifier at the Springfield Country Club in Fort Mill.

Teams from Spartanburg and Greenville counties led the way on Monday, taking six of the eight qualifying spots for next week’s State Championship tournament at Charleston Municipal Golf Club.

Boiling Springs nipped Dorman by one stroke to win the mythical Upper State title, since no medals or trophies are given in the qualifying tournaments.

The Bulldogs shot a 312, just a shot ahead of the Cavaliers’ 313.

Boiling Springs continued their late season surge that earned the Bulldogs a Region championship last week, after a regular season marred by a number of injuries.

“Now that we are all healthy, we are playing our best golf of the year right now, but we are going to need to play even better next week,” said Boiling Springs coach Josh Pruitt.

Boiling Springs’ Andrew Gregory took medalist honors with a one-under 71, the only sub-par round of the day. Walker Greene shot a 76 for the Bulldogs, with Walker Ingram’s 78 and Clayton Taylor’s 87 rounding out Boiling Springs’ scoring.

“Andrew had a better round going, but the three finishing holes were really difficult. I think just about everyone played them over par. His par on the final hole made the difference for him and us,” said Pruitt.

Will Ruth shot a 75 to lead Dorman, with David Ross’ 76, Will Pye’s 79, and Taylor Kessler’s 83 falling just short of Boiling Springs’ total.

Host school Nation Ford was third at 315, led by Ben Mills’ 76. Spartanburg and Mauldin tied for fourth at 320, with Riverside and Fort Mill knotted at 321 in a tie for sixth.

J.L. Mann claimed the eighth and final qualifying spot with a 323, led by Groves Williams’ 74.

Blythewood’s Grand Paolucci shot an even-par 72 to lead individual qualifiers.

Byrnes’ Jefferson Elmore qualified with a 75, while T.L. Hanna’s Bennett Scaletta carded a 76 and Spring Valley’s John Thompson took the last individual ticket to State with a 77.