The Seneca Bobcats tuned up to defend their state AAA championship by finishing on top of the Upstate qualifying tournament at Willow Creek.

The 18 hole qualifying tournament does not give out any medals or awards, instead it is the next step towards a state title next week in the state championship at the Hackler Course at Coastal Carolina.

Led by Ansley Bryson’s 74, the Bobcats posted a 338 total to finish four shots in front of Daniel (342) with Blue Ridge coming in third (355),

“We have been using the entire year as a building block for the state tournament,” said first year Bobcat coach Lyn Harper. “We didn’t play any 9-hole matches, we only played tournaments,” she said.

The Bobcats return three golfers from last year’s championship team, Bryson , Skyler Martin and Hazel Martin are joined by Tessa Robinson and Olivia Silberman on this year’s team trying to repeat as champions.

While her team has been successful this year and ranked at the top of the AAA coaches poll, Harper never saw her team fail to put in the work needed to win another championship.

“This team has worked hard to repeat as a state champion. They have had an excellent year and now they are ready for the challenge at the state championship,: said the Bobcat coach,

The format for this year’s AAA championship is a little different. There will only be 12 teams and several individuals competing for the title next week.

In the past, the size of the field was divided evenly between the upper and lower state, This year the field is made up of the top 12 scores posted in the qualifying tournaments.

Based on the scores the upstate will fill eight of the twelve team spots in the tournament.

After the top three teams, also qualifying for the state tournament were Chapman (370), Wren (390), Fountain Inn (411), Palmetto (418) and Travelers Rest (425).

As the qualifying teams were announced the biggest cheer came from the Fountain Inn team as the Fury advance to the state championship for the first time in only the second year of the school’s golf program.

“Honestly, at the beginning of the year making state was not one of our goals,” said Fountain Inn coach David Horton. “In just our second year we wanted to improve and be competitive. We didn’t start thinking about state till midway through the year,” he said,.

The Fury played in the Lady Patriot and finished in the middle of the pack. Horton compared scores with other teams and started to think his team might have a chance to play in the post season,

“Our girls have a lot of energy and were working hard and having fun and it all came together here and we are going to state,” he said.

The Fury are made up of very young players, an eighth grader, a few freshman and a sophomore will get valuable experience playing in the state championship.

The team includes Sara Deistellow, Maggi Bair, Spencer Kate Harvey, Kailee Robinson, Maybry Thompson and Addie Lopez.

While not recognized by the High School League as a tournament victory Blue Ridge’s Katelyn Cox shot a 1-overpar 73 to post the best individual score in the qualifying tournament.

In addition to the eight teams Kate Gunnels from West-Oak and Jacey Coates from Emerald will play as individual entrants.

Chapin tops AAAAA Upstate Qualifying

Chapin has been at the top of the AAAAA coaches poll most of the year and the Eagles took the next step towards a state championship finishing on top of the AAAAA Qualifying tournament at Chester.

Chapin finished two shots in front of Dorman, the defending AAAAA champions.

While there is no individual champion crowned in the qualifying tournament, Blythwood’s Caroline Hawkins 6-under par 66 deserved recognition.

Hawkins finished four shots in front of Mauldin’s Olivia Pellerin with Chapin’s Mia Andrade and Dorman’s Londyn Rath tying for third place,

In addition to the eight teams advancing to the state finals four individuals will compete in the championship.

Sydney Culhane from Hillcrest, Elaine Craig from Spring Valley, Olivia Jones from Byrnes and Merrick Johnson from Mann will also be in the field.

The AAAAA State Championship will be played at Mid Carolina Country Club on October 23- 24th.

Grace Lindsay from Wando was the top individual carding a 1-over par 73.

Caitlyn Gaines from River Bluff and Hannah Lowery from Socastee tied for second.

May River and Catawba Ridge top AAAA Qualifying

May River shot a 313 total in the Lower State and got the top spot in the qualifying tournament and the top spot in the state AAAA championship next week.

Catawba Ridge was the top Upper State qualifier shooting a 351 total to finish in front of the defending AAAA champions from Pickens.

Here is the field for the AAAA State Championship to be played at Saluda Valley in Williamston on October 23 – 24th.

• May River (313)
• N Myrtle Beach (324)
• Hilton Head (346)
• Catawba Ridge (351)
• AC Flora (353)
• Pickens (361)
• S. Aiken (361)
• W. Florence (363)
• Myrtle Beach (367)
• Aiken (372)
• York (378)
• Eastside (385)
• Bluffton (387)
• Lucy Beckham (390)
• Indian Land (393)