Last year the Dorman Cavaliers rolled through the season winning every tournament they played on the way to the AAAAA championship.

This year with an experienced team returning, minus two outstanding seniors, the Cavaliers still believed they could be contenders, but it wasn’t going to be easy.

“We knew we had a good team, but we also knew it was going to be a real grind to repeat as state champions,”
said first year Cavalier coach Laura Mauer.

The Cavaliers did not win every tournament this year, but they won a few and played well enough to be considered a team capable of winning a state title again.

The Cavaliers kept pace throughout the year with Chapin, the team they topped to win the 2022 championship.

The Eagles had an outstanding season and were the top ranked AAAAA team in the coaches poll during the year.

The two teams separated themselves from the rest of the AAAAA field late in the year and a tournament just before the state tournament began gave Mauer the confidence to believe the Dorman team was ready to repeat.

“At the high school invitational at Moss Creek, at the end of September, that was really tough pin placement and tough competition. We had a strong second day finish and after that we knew state was in our reach,” said the Dorman coach.

In the first round of the state championship at the Mid Carolina Golf Club the Cavaliers and the Eagles finished tied.

In the second round, the Cavaliers were again paired with the Eagles and managed to get a few shots ahead of Chapin at the turn.

Just as their coach had suggested the Cavaliers would have to grind out a win and they did.

It was not as comfortable a margin as it was last year, but the four stroke difference was enough for the Cavaliers to secure their second straight state title.

“The team was really responsive to strong mental game prep and they knew how to handle the post season,” said Mauer.

Both Chapin and Dorman improved on their first round scores in the second round, but Dorman shaved five shots off their opening round totals while Chapin was only able to card a round one-shot better.

A.C. Peake the youngest golfer on the Dorman squad made the biggest contribution in the final round. Peake improved by five shots on her first round score to post the best total for the Cavs and earned a sixth place individual finish.

In addition to Peake the members of the winning Cavaliers included Ava Romansky, Londyn Rath, Maddie Carraway, Addie Cox and Carley Clem.

Chapin finished in front of Lexington with River Bluff and Wando rounding out the top five.

Caroline Hawkins repeated as medalist. The sophomore at Blythewood win this year gave her bookends for the prep season.

Hawkins shot a 63 to win her season opening title at the Palmetto Preview and wrapped up the season with a comfortable win and second straight state championship.

“I’ve just been having fun.” she said. “I’ve been playing well and where I’m having fun playing my scores get better,” said Hawkins.

In the state championship, Hawkins shot rounds of 68 and 67 for a 135 total and a win and repeat championship. In the post season her worst score was a 69 to win her Region championship.

Hawkins not only played well in high school golf this year, but in SCJGA and AJGA events earning important championships before the start of high school play.

A win at Congaree in the South Carolina Junior Golf Association Match Play championship and a win at Forest Lake in the Matt NeSmith Junior has her near the top of the SCJGA Rankings.

The win in the state championship likely will move her up to the top spot in the rankings.

Hawkins finished in front of her good friend Olivia Pellerin from Mauldin for the second straight year.

The future Anderson University golfer finished with a 149 total to be a shot in front of Chapin’s Lilly Reed Black. Wando’s Grace Lindley finished fourth with Mia Andrade from Chapin in fifth.

Scores from the SCHSL AAAAA Championship https://www.birdiefire.com/tournament/195441/