Upper and Lower State Qualifying tournaments this week are setting the field for next weeks state championships.

By Stan OIenik, Editor-Publisher. The Golf Ckub

The Hanna Yellow Jackets are headed back to the state tournament with a chance to make it three consecutive championships. Their path there has been built on a familiar mix: steady play, tournament experience and a remarkable number of talented golfers from a handful of local families.

Hanna won the Upper State 4A qualifier, shooting 317 to finish 10 shots ahead of Fountain Inn. Catawba Ridge placed third, followed by Greenville, Indian Land and Gaffney. All six teams advanced to the state tournament at the Hackler Course in Conway.

For Hanna coach Gabby Kitts, the depth of golf talent that has come through the program is a gift.

“In high school sports, you’re dealt what you have to work with, and we’ve been really blessed with the caliber of golfers we’ve had,” Kitts said.

The Scaletta, Erlenkeuser and Schulze families have all had sons or daughters play for Hanna, helping the Yellow Jackets win team and individual titles. Last year, Marissa Scaletta joined her brother Bennett as a state champion.

This season, Serra Erlenkeuser led the Upper State qualifier, shooting an even-par 72. Her older brother, Erik, won the boys 5A state title last year. Serra’s sister Sierra has also been part of Hanna’s golf program.

The Yellow Jackets have been contenders over the past four years, and Kitts believes this team has the experience to contend again. Hanna has played several tournaments against Upper State teams, though Kitts said she knows less about the Lower State teams they will meet in Conway.

“We’ve played really solid golf all year,” she said. “We had a tournament when all our players shot scores in the 70s. It’s been fun to see the improvement they’ve made from last year to this year.”

At the qualifier, Serra Erlenkeuser was followed by Brooks Mehlhouse at 75 and Fountain Inn’s Spencer Harvey at 77. Hanna’s Sierra Schulze tied for sixth, while Hanna Erlenkeuser finished ninth. Hayden Bell and Reagan Joseph completed the Yellow Jackets’ lineup.

Kitts plans to take the same team to the state tournament. The players have been together through several high-pressure events, she said, and that experience has helped prepare them for the challenge ahead.

“My lineup hasn’t really changed much over the past three or four years, which has been good for them,” Kitts said. “They’ve had those high-pressure tournament situations. They’ve grown through that, and they’ve been there multiple times. That part of it isn’t new to them.”

The Yellow Jackets will travel to Conway for a practice round Saturday and hold a light practice Sunday before the first round Monday.

Kitts wants her players to arrive expecting to win, but without feeling that anything short of a championship would make the season a failure.

“Just play your part, do what you need to do, and let the golf take care of itself,” she said.

South Carolina Upper and Lower State Qualifiers