BLACKSHEAR — Pierce County is hosting the two-day, Class AA state golf tournament beginning Monday, May 18 here at the Okefenokee Country Club.
Both the Lady Bears and Bears will be joined by 11 other programs, who finished in the Top 3 in Area tournaments, in the 36-hole event, which concludes Tuesday, May 19.
The Lady Bears, the Area 2 champions, are attempting to reach rarefied air with a fifth consecutive state title and eighth overall (2000, 2005, 2019, 2022-25). Only four schools have won five or more consecutive titles.
Small school power Lake Oconee Academy (2018-25) leads the way with a current streak of seven (split by COVID in 2020) across Class A Public and Class A DII.
Class 6A Lambert has won the last six titles (2019-25) in the highest classification (Class 6A, Class 7A). Vidalia (Class 2A 2013-17) and Lambert (Class 6A, Class 7A - 2013-17) had streaks end at five.
The Lady Bears, who shot the second-lowest score in the Area tournaments with a 158, will be joined by Area 1 teams Columbus (171), Morgan County (178) and Pike County (194). Burke County (172) and Appling County (187) qualified out of Area 2.
The Area 3 representatives are Coahulla Creek (192), Sonoraville (197) and Union County (198). Area 4 champions Hart County (153) posted the lowest score in Area competition. The Lady Bulldogs will be joined by Stephens County (182) and Drew Charter (195).
The Bears are seeking their first title since 2017 and fifth overall (1988-89, 2009). PCHS (320) finished third at the Area 2 tournament behind Thomson (316, lowest in Area tournaments) and Burke County (319).
Area 1 will be represented by Pike County (332), Morgan County (334) and defending champion Columbus (343). Schools from Area 3 are Sonoraville (327), Coahulla Creek (335) and Ringgold (335).
Hart County (332), Drew Charter (340) and Stephens County (346) will represent Area 4.
