In the 5A classification, the two-time defending state champions are right where they want to be.

Boiling Springs fired a 304 to take first place in the 5A Upper State qualifier at the Springfield Golf Club, edging Mauldin by a single shot.

“We’ve just had trouble finishing tournaments this year,” said Bulldog coach Josh Pruitt. “We didn’t do great today, but we did better and that made the difference for us,” he said.

The Bulldogs were paced by Clayton Taylor, whose round of 71 was good for fourth place. Andrew Gregory’s 73 put him in ninth place, while Walker Ingram shot 78 to finish in 18th place. Lawson Miller’s 82 rounded out the scoring for Boiling Springs.

“Our guys were a little down after not winning the Region. I think some of what happened today was the team was really focused and didn’t want a win to slip away, again” said Pruett.

It was close as the finishing three holes at Springfield could change the outcome of a tournament.

“Maybe it was a little of our history or tradition that got us through today. We have played in so many big tournaments this year it was time to turn it on today and the team did it,” said a happy Boiling Springs coach.

Mauldin’s 305 was nearly good enough to take down the Bulldogs. Major Lenning fired a 73, Evan Eassy shot 76, DJ Belcher carded a 77, and JD Mayer shot 79 as all four Maverick golfers finished in the top 21.

None of the Upper or Lower State tournaments crown individual champions and the team finish is only for the opportunity to play for the state championship in AAAAA next week at Carolina Country Club in Spartanburg.

The top individual scores were turned in by Ben Mills (Nation Ford) and Chase Cline (Chapin) with 68’s .

Hanna’s Bennett Scaletta shot 69 to help his team qualify for the state championship.

The Yellow Jackets had carried the top spot in the SC Golf Coaches AAAAA poll into the Upper State tournament and finished fifth to advance.

The top eight teams and four individuals not on a qualifying team will play next week in the AAAAA Championship.

Upper State AAAAA Team Scores: 1-Boiling Springs 304, 2-Mauldin 305, 3t- Nation Ford 307, 3t- Chapin 307, 5- TL Hanna 309, 6- Spartanburg 310 , 7-Dorman 314, 8- Fort Mill 319.

Qualifying Individuals: Grant Paolucci 72 (Blythewood) John Thompson 78 (Spring Valley) Zeke Spivey 79* (Spring Valley) Trenton Blanton 79* (Gaffney) 

Lexington finishes on top of the Lower State AAAAA

In the Lower State AAAAA Qualifying tournament Lexington’s Dylan Leicht shot a 3-under par 68 and that made the difference for the Wildcats to finish on top of the Lower State at Wescott Plantation in Summerville.

If medals were given out Leicht would have won it for the low score of the day and his career low round.

Lexington finished with a 3 shot advantage over West Ashley at 301 and a strong performance from River Bluff in third at 304.

Conway’s Easton Cox had the second best individual score shooting a 2-under par 69 and helping his team to fourth place.

Rounding out the top eight in the Lower State were Ashley Ridge, St James, Wando and Fort Dorchester.

Full results from the Lower State AAAAA qualifier https://birdiefire.com/tournament/160291/