Golf: Jefferson girls aim for top-five finish

“We’re guestimating between fourth and sixth,” said coach Tom Parker, whose team finished third last year. “Our goal is to be in the top five. We’d love to finish in the top three like we did last year, but our main goal is to be in the top five.”

The Lady Dragons, runners-up in Region 8-AA, will play at the state tournament Monday at 9 a.m. at Long Shadow Golf Club in Madison.

Jefferson fired a 178 last Tuesday (April 19) at region to finish second to 8-AA champion Elbert County, breaking a streak of six consecutive region titles for the Jefferson girls. But the team isn’t thinking any less of its season. Qualifying was an accomplishment in itself, Parker said, pointing to a much tougher Region 8-AA field this year.

“We were ecstatic,” Parker said. “We knew it was going to be a tough battle just to make it this year … Just to qualify was a goal.”

Hanna Chapman paced Jefferson with an 88 at region. With a 44-stroke nine-hole average this year, Chapman’s 88 was right at her season target.

“She had a couple of tough holes, but she just kept battling,” Parker said.

Chapman finished fourth individually at region behind Banks County’s Cara Crowder (76), Hannah Barger (83) and Katie McCall (86) of Elbert County.

Chapman finished in the top eight in the state last year individually and looks for another high finish this Monday.

“She has a shot to be right in the mix again,” Parker said.

Jefferson will take advantage of a Thursday practice round at Long Shadow. Some will try to play it again Sunday on the eve of the state tournament.