The May River girls golf team knew they had the talent to compete for a state title in their first season in Class 4A. They didn’t expect to do it with so little resistance.
The Sharks took an eight-shot advantage into Tuesday’s final round of the SCHSL Class 4A State Championship at Shipyard Golf Club and turned it into a 36-shot win, unseating defending champion AC Flora. The Falcons finished second, followed by host Hilton Head High. Bluffton finished 10th among 14 qualifying teams.
AC Flora’s Gracie McCoy shot 2-over-par 146 over 36 holes to win the individual title by five shots over May River’s Sydney Bowes, while Hilton Head High’s Alexia Milbrandt was one shot behind Bowes in third. But the Sharks showcased their strength up and down the lineup to run away from the pack.
After carding a team score of 324 on Monday, May River crushed any inkling of an AC Flora comeback with a blistering 314 in the final round to seal the program’s first state championship. Sydney Bowes (151) led a trio of Sharks who made the All-State team along with her sister, Kylie, who tied for fourth at 154, and Robbin Zetrouer, who tied for eighth at 165. Hannah Harris (168) tied for 11th, just missing the All-State team.
“Aside from my actual sister, we are all sisters,” senior Sydney Bowes said. “We all get together outside of golf, and on the course we definitely have a really close bond that wasn’t quite there all year. To win with this group of girls is really special. I’ll never forget it.”
Milbrandt carded rounds of 78 and 74 to earn All-State honors and lead the third-place Seahawks, who started the final round in fourth place but carded a solid 338 on Tuesday to move up one spot. McKenzie Bradley (171) tied for 16th, and Eliza Jane Coulter (176) tied for 23rd.
Jennifer Richardson led Bluffton, shooting 178 to tie for 27th. The Bobcats posted team scores of 381 and 385.
ALL-STATE TEAM
Gracie McCoy – AC Flora
Sydney Bowes – May River
Alexia Milbrandt – Hilton Head
Kylie Bowes – May River
Cara Hilburn – North Myrtle Beach
Clair Lewis – Greenwood
Lindsay Green – South Aiken
Katherine Mann – Catawba Ridge
Nikki Strandell – Travelers Rest
Robbin Zetrouer – May River
| School | R1 | R2 | TOT |
|---|---|---|---|
| May River | 324 | 314 | 638 |
| AC Flora | 332 | 342 | 674 |
| Hilton Head | 344 | 338 | 682 |
| Catawba Ridge | 343 | 362 | 705 |
| Pickens | 359 | 363 | 722 |
| Myrtle Beach | 375 | 355 | 730 |
| North Myrtle Beach | 363 | 369 | 732 |
| Greenville | 356 | 384 | 740 |
| Walhalla | 386 | 367 | 753 |
| Bluffton | 381 | 385 | 766 |
| West Florence | 392 | 385 | 777 |
| Greenwood | 390 | 395 | 785 |
| Easley | 401 | 394 | 795 |
| Hartsville | 394 | 410 | 804 |