The quality of high school golf in the Greater Savannah area has grown extensively in the last 10 years and Savannah area teams and players continued on the upward arc with impressive seasons in 2024.
The Savannah Christian girls won their third consecutive state crown, repeating as Class 3A state champions behind another individual state crown for senior Mary Miller, who edged teammate Ava Cottis in the state tournament for medalist honors.
On the boys side, Benedictine and Savannah Country Day had strong campaigns as the Cadets finished second in the Class 4A State Tournament, while the Hornets finished in a tie for second in the Class 3A Tournament.
Annie Keller is the All-Greater Savannah Girls Golf Coach of the Year once again after the Raiders' stellar season.
In his first year leading the Benedictine team, Cadet alumnus Kevin Halligan earned All-Greater Savannah Boys Golf Coach of the Year honors with a remarkable eight team tournament wins on the season.
The All-Greater Savannah Boys and Girls Golf teams are announced today.The first-team selections will be recognized at the Coastal Empire High School Sports Awards show, presented by Georgia Ports, on June 7 at the Johnny Mercer Theatreat the Savannah Civic Center, where the Players of the Year will be announced. The show is produced with support from Chatham Orthopaedic Associates and WJCL 22 News.
Nominees can register here. Nominee Registration for the 2024 Coastal Empire High School Sports Awards (smartsheet.com)
Tickets for the general public are on sale here: Coastal Empire High School Sports Awards Tickets June 7, 2024 Savannah, GA | Ticketmaster
For more information about the show including links to other sports nominees and to opt into email updates, visit its website and you can also follow it on Facebook.
The Coastal Empire High School Sports Awards show is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, the largest high school sports recognition program in the country.
All-Greater Savannah Girls Golf First-Team
Mary Miller, Savannah Christian, Sr.
Miller repeated as the Class 3A individual state champion after edging her teammate, Ava Cottis, on the first playoff hole at LaFayette Municipal Golf Course after they were tied at even par 144 in the 36-hole event as the Raiders won their third straight team crown. The Georgia Southern-bound senior also won the Area Championship, the Wildcat Invitational and tied for medalist honors in the Savannah City High School Championship.
Ava Cottis, Savannah Christian, Jr.
Cottis had an excellent showing in the Class 3A state tournament as she took her teammate and close friend Mary Miller to extra holes after shooting even-par 144 over 36 holes to help lead the Raiders to their third straight state team crown. She shot 78 in the Area tournament and carded a 38 over nine holes in the Savannah City High School Championship.
Kate Barber, Savannah Country Day, Jr.
Barber shot a 71 to finish second behind Miller in the Area Tournament at Crosswinds GC. She finished second in the Savannah City High School Championship and was fourth in the Class 3A state tournament finishing the 36-hole event at 16-over par. Barber has committed to play at Auburn.
Bryne Sorge, Savannah Country Day, Sr.
Sorge tied for medalist honors at the Savannah City High School Championship and carded a 77 at Crosswinds in the Area Tournament. She finished sixth in the Class 3A State meet at 22-over par in the 36-hole event. She has signed to play at St. Francis University.
Alexa Mohler, Richmond Hill, Fresh.
Mohler won the Gregg Wolff Invitational in Metter and shot a 75 in the Area 1-7A Tournament, before carding an 80 in the sectional tournament. She shot 8-over par 150 to finish ninth in the Class 7A State Tournament.
Madi Saxton, Veritas Academy, Sr.
The senior had another impressive season highlighted by a second place finish in the GAPPS Division II State Tournament where she carded a 1-over par 73.
Girls Honorable Mention
Amanda Puchales, Richmond Hill, sophom*ore
Hayden Price, The Habersham School
Natalie Altman, Effingham County
Cayla Tasney, South Effingham
Isabella Romine, Richmond Hill
Tyne Parker, St. Vincent's
Ainsley Sheffield, St. Vincent's
All-Greater Savannah Boys Golf First-Team
Braden Schnaible, The Habersham School, Jr.
The junior won the GAPPS Division II state championship with a 1-under par 71 at Bull Creek Golf Course. He won the Savannah City High School Championship with a 1-over par 72 at Bacon Park Golf Course. He also won the Gregg Wolff Invitational in Metter with a 1-over par 72 and the Blue Devil Golf Classic in Statesboro with a 72. He tied for third at the 1902 Cup with another 72.
Bear Dollander, Benedictine, Fresh.
Dollander battled back from an injury and finished in a tie for second in the Class 4A state tournament after shooting even par in the final round and 7-over for the 36-hole event. He tied for third in the 1902 Cup with a 73, won the Camden Classic and shot 78 in the Area Tournament.
Ledger Conley, Richmond Hill, Soph.
Conley finished in a tie for 19th in the Class 7A State Tournament shooting 5-over par in the 36-hole event at Sunset Hills Country Club. He shot 77 in the Area Tournament and carded a 68 at the Sectional Tournament. He won the 1902 Cup with a 2-under par 70 at the Savannah Golf Club.
Caden Hartley, Savannah Country Day, Soph.
Hartley finished in a tie for 14th in the Class 3A State tournament, shooting 13-over par in the 36 hole event. He won the Area title at Crosswinds GC with a 71 and had a 74 in the Savannah City High School Championship. He tied for fourth in the 1902 Cup with a 74.
William Whitfield, Savannah Country Day, Sr.
Whitfield shot a one-under par second 71 in the second round of the Class 3A state tournament, where he finished second with a one-under par 143 over the 36-hole event. He shot 75 in the Savannah City High School Championship.
Patrick Mahaffey, Richmond Hill, Soph.
Mahaffey was seven-over par in the Class 7A State Tournament in the 36-hole event and carded a 73 at the Sectional Tournament. He had a 74 in the 1902 to tie for fourth and shot even par 71 in the Wildcat Invitational to tie for medalist honors.
Second team
Hamp Threlkeld, Benedictine, soph.
Jack Weeks, Benedictine, fresh.
Whit Watson, Benedictine, sr.
Braylon Royal, Calvary Day, sr.
Honorable mention
Benedictine — Clayton Ruchalski, Colin Halligan, Heath Kulp, Colby Brennan
Bethesda — Quentin Brooks
Habersham School — Talyn Childress, Tyler Shippy
Richmond Hill — Cooper Reid, Will McNeely, Porter Fabre, Mathew Reynolds
Savannah Christian — Elliott Oliver
Savannah Country Day — Charles Morris, Andrew Messalle, Dallas Hunter, Thomas Claiborne
South Effingham — Devin Salter, Jacob Tasney
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter:@DennisKnightSMN
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Here are the top 2024 Savannah-area high school golfers
