High finishes and low scores have been the norm for Statesboro golf this season. Come Monday, the Blue Devils will have a chance to test themselves against the best teams that Georgia has to offer.
    Statesboro posted a strong third place showing in last month’s Region 3-AAAA championship. With many teams falling short of the team score of 340 – the four lowest scores out of six golfers are counted – required to move on in the competition, Statesboro was able to bypass the sectional qualifier and move straight into the state championships.
    The Class AAAA champion will be determined after a round of play at Dalton Country Club.
    It took a seven hour drive via school bus, but the Devils arrived in Dalton Saturday ready to get to business.
    “We had a chance to get a good look at the course today and we’ll ride 18 holes tomorrow,” SHS coach Glenn Bailey said. “With this being a new course for us, it’s mostly about doing our homework. I want our players to focus on yardages and pin positions. We just need to be prepared for what we might see on Monday.”
    The Devils have passed every test that they’ve faced with flying colors so far.
    Statesboro claimed its first major tournament victory in seven years in St. Simons back in March. At the region competition, the Devils fell short of only Richmond Academy and South Effingham – both of which figure to be contenders for the state championship.
    The key to Statesboro’s success has been consistency. Cameron Shiels has posted some under-par rounds throughout the season to lead the way, but solid efforts from teammates Trevor Dailey, Clay Cribbs, Jordan Woody and Sarah Jane Bowers — who is playing on the boys’ team due to a lack of participation on the girls’ squad — have but the Devils in contention in every competition they have entered.
    Not too shabby for a team full of sophomores and juniors.
    “I think that we have a good team now and even more potential moving forward,” Bailey said. “We’ve really come along well. There are some really good teams that we’ll play against on Monday, but I think that we can put up some good scores.”
    A total of 16 teams will be in competition for the Class AAAA title. Each player will complete one round, with the lowest team total bringing home a state championship.

    Mike Anthony may be reached at (912) 489-9404.