James Island won the Region 7-4A boys golf championship Tuesday at Charleston Municipal Golf Course, posting a team score of 319 to edge Hilton Head High and Beaufort High for the title.
The Trojans capitalized as the host team at their newly remodeled home course, besting Hilton Head High (329) by 10 shots and Beaufort High (333) by 14 strokes. May River (345) finished fourth, and Bluffton (357) rounded out the top five.
Hilton Head High’s Nolan Hawkins won medalist honors with an impressive 1-over-par 73 on a steamy day in Charleston. The Seahawk junior won by two shots over James Island’s Connor Heyboer, who fired a 3-over 75. Beaufort High School’s Jerry Bruns placed third with a 76, and May River High School’s Andrew Swanson claimed fourth place with a 6-over 78.
Other notable scores included HHIHS’s Ben Batson (81), Beaufort’s George Cooler (82), and Bluffton’s Jones Saylor (85).
With their top four finishes, James Island, Hilton Head, Beaufort, and May River qualified for the Lower State Championship and will travel to the Country Club of South Carolina in West Florence next Monday.
After Hilton Head and Beaufort dominated region play throughout the regular season, the two squads will look to hit reset and find their top form heading into the state championship. The top eight teams from the one-day Lower State qualifier will advance to the Class 4A State Championship at Dolphin Head Golf Club on Hilton Head Island.
The last time a state championship tournament was held on Hilton Head Island, the host Seahawks walked away with the trophy.
By Brian Rietveld