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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

The golf sectional championships on Monday, April 28 brought out the best in local competitors as they looked to secure spots at next week’s sub-state championships.

In the end, golfers from the Briarwood Christian Lions, Spain Park Jaguars, Chelsea Hornets, Pelham Panthers, Oak Mountain Eagles, Indian Springs School and the Westminster School at Oak Mountain Knights reached sub-state.

In Classes 1A-6A, the top four teams and top four individual golfers not on a qualifying team advanced to sub-state. Class 7A only took the top two teams and two individual qualifiers.

Briarwood took top honors in the Class 6A, Section 2 girls championship at Timberline Golf Club in Calera. Presley Justice led the way with a 74 while Cariann Beatty had a 77, Camille Beatty shot an 81 and Ellie McElroy earned a 94.

Spain Park’s Claire Johnson was the top non-automatic qualifier with a score of 87, advancing to sub-state alongside Chelsea’s Emma Bazzell, who tied for the second-best score with an 89.

Spain Park’s boys secured the No. 2 spot at the Class 6A, Section 2 championship at Timberline with a score of 289. Chase Kyes dropped an 8-under-par 63 to secure low medalist honors. He finished the round bogey-free while shooting birdies on holes two, five, six, eight, 11, 15, 17 and 18.

Rocco Saia secured a 72 for the Jags while both Luke Philley and Adam Russell broke 80 with a 75 and 79, respectively. Landon Crane was the fifth golfer with a score of 82.

Chelsea finished third with a total score of 300 with Cohen Kearbey leading the team with a score of 72. The Hornets had four golfers shoot sub-80 rounds with Stratton Hodges shooting a 74, Andrew Harris earning a 75 and Austin Jones had a 79. Anderson Trawick shot exactly 80.

In addition, two local golfers qualified as individuals as Pelham’s Kaden Parramore was the second-best non-automatic qualifier with a score of 74 and Briarwood’s Sam Burns was fourth with a 75.

Oak Mountain came in second place in the girls Class 7A, Section 3 championship at Limestone Springs in Oneonta. Kate Nickels led the team with a score of 80 while Reese Powell shot an 81 and Caroline Gardner had an 83. The Eagles finished with 244 as a team, 13 strokes behind Hewitt-Trussville.

Oak Mountain also had a pair of individual qualifiers on the boys side between Luke Butts, who shot a 75, and Sam Martin, who secured a 76 to advance to sub-state.

Indian Springs secured the No. 4 spot in the Class 4A, Section 2 boys championship at Ol’ Colony Golf Course in Tuscaloosa. Carter Devine led the way with an 84 while Max Markstein had a 99, Will Dunn shot a 103 and Luke French earned a 108. Gus French rounded out the team with a 118.

Westminster OM’s boys advanced as the No. 4 seed out of the Class 1A/2A, Section 2 championship. Asher Franklin led the way with a score of 82 on Cider Ridge Golf Course in Oxford. Aiden Gamble shot a 90, Holden Smith came in with a 92 and Walter Moore had a 103.

The sub-state championships will be held on Monday, May 5. Oak Mountain will play at RTJ Hampton Cove in Huntsville, Briarwood, Spain Park, Chelsea and Pelham will be at Ol’ Colony, Indian Springs will play The Pines of Chatom and Westminster OM will be at RTJ Cambrian Ridge in Greenville.