Photos by River Bluff High School
By Thomas Grant Jr.
The moniker of “golf school” seems appropriate for River Bluff High School.
Having secured back-to-back Class 5A titles in boys’ golf, the Lady Gators has now joined them as state champions. Spurred by a strong second day effort, River Bluff pulled away to take the title Tuesday in Little River.
A week after finishing runner-up to Dorman in the Upper State final, the Lady Gators erased a similar deficit after Day One to win by 10 strokes with a team score of 654.
“This is a very special day,” River Bluff head coach Roger Smith said.
River Bluff’s turnaround was boosted by having four golfers in the Top 10. Upper State champion Kelly Huang placed fourth with a score of 159, followed by senior Merritt Wham (161) in fifth place. She tied with Lyles Herritage of third-place Lexington.
Kylie Smith of 10th place Gray Collegiate Academy finished seventh and River Bluff eighth grader Rosie Vroon and senior Emery Jones (167) tied for 10th place with Ansley Couch of seventh-place Chapin.
Smith credited the team’s hard work, focus and maturity in learning from the close loss in the Upper State. He also praised the support of school administrators, teachers and fellow students.
“They all led each other and played hard for each other and that’s what’s been happening all season,” Smith said. “Somebody always stepped up to help out. Somebody’s having a bad day it seems like, somebody else would step up and cover somebody up. Call it a love for each other, but they really play for each other.”
River Bluff girls’ golf is the eighth state championship team in the school’s 14-year history.
