Lady Bears Golf Coach Stuart Stipe and his championship team joined the Blackshear Rotary Club for lunch last week. The Lady Bears recently returned home with their fourth state championship trophy, continuing a tradition of golf excellence at PCHS.
Stipe attributes the team’s success to three things – a great community, strong program and even better girls. “These girls are great golfers, but they’re even better people,” Stipe said. The show of support from the school system, business community, parents and local golf courses sets the team up for success. Leadership support for their program, including support for the team to play in six tournaments before their run at state put them in a strong position.
These girls know how to handle adversity and they don’t ever lose their competitive edge, Stipe says. He attributes that partially to the fact that five players compete for four spots the whole season. I tell them all the time to be ‘Grizzly Bears’, Stipe said.
He praised their commitment to the sport and willingness to make sacrifices that most teens don’t make. Most importantly, he coaches the team to have fun, make memories and glorify Jesus. Stipe announced Mollie Kate Dixon and Mackenzie Connell made the All-State team. Connell is also AA Player of the Year.
