Cade Robinson and Ginny Higginbotham earned medalist honors as Lake Hamilton downed Sheridan Thursday at Glenwood Country Club.
Robinson shot a 39 for the lowest score on the day as the Wolves turned in a team card of 165. Sheridan finished with a team score of 219.
Peyton Garner (41), Zac Pennington (41), Jack Higginbotham (46) and Brode Horton (44) rounded out the Wolves varsity golfers. Raney Foster (58) and Ben Varner (54) turned in scores for the junior varsity Wolves.
"This was by far our best match of the season for the boys," said Lake Hamilton golf coach Brandi Higginbotham. "Cade Robinson finished as medalist with his season low. Peyton Garner, Zac Pennington, Brode Horton and Jack Higginbotham also recorded their season low scores."
Sheridan was led by Drake Alstadt with a 53.
Ginny Higginbotham turned in a low round of 46 for medalist honors in the girls match as the Lady Wolves shot a 154 while Sheridan turned in a 175. Jordyn Garner (53), Reagan Carrouth (63) and Kenley Kincannon (55) rounded out Lake Hamilton's scoring.
Kaitlyn Horton led the Lady Yellowjackets with a 56.
"The girls played solid in the heat as well," Brandi Higginbotham said. "Ginny Higginbotham was medalist with a 46. Kenley Kincannon shot her season low of 55 to help out with the team scoring. Sheridan was missing their #1 player due to quarantine that will give them lots of help in the conference tournament."
Lake Hamilton will travel to Bismarck today to face the Lions and Lady Lions at DeGray Lake Resort State Park Golf Course.
REDDIES PICKED TO DEFEND TITLE IN PRESEASON POLL
Henderson State's women's golf team was picked just ahead of Arkansas Tech as the Reddies look to defend their 2021 Great American Conference Championship title.
The Reddies and Golden Suns both earned 60 votes to lead the league, but HSU picked up five first-place votes to four for Arkansas Tech. The Reddies return all five players that clinched the league title a year ago, including Allie Bianchi, who was only the second Reddie ever to qualify as an individual for Nationals. HSU did replace head coach Forrest Schultz with first-year head coach Colton Cowan.
Southwestern Oklahoma State was selected third in the polling with Harding and Oklahoma Baptist finishing fourth and fifth. Harding finished third at the GAC Championships and reached the Central Regional for the first time since 2013.
Arkansas-Monticello was sixth, Southern Arkansas and Southern Nazarene tied for seventh, and Northwestern Oklahoma State rounded out the poll.
Arkansas Tech, Harding, HSU, NWOSU, Oklahoma Baptist, Southern Nazarene and SWOSU open their seasons at the Central Region Preview on Sept. 7. The 2022 GAC Championships will be held April 10-12, 2022, at Hot Springs Country Club.
WONDER BOYS PICKED AS GAC GOLF FAVORITE
Arkansas Tech, coming off its national championship win in May, received all eight first-place votes to enter the fall as the GAC favorite to win the league.
After winning the GAC title and taking third and the Central/Midwest Regional, the Wonder Boys finished second in stroke play at the National Championships. They then went on to defeat Central Missouri in the quarterfinals, top-ranked West Florida in the semifinals and Georgia Southwestern in the finals. The team returns four of the five golfers that competed in last year's championship season.
HSU was picked second in the league with SWOSU third. HSU finished second to the Wonder Boys at the GAC Championships, and both HSU and SWOSU finished in the top six at the regional.
SAU edged out Harding by one vote for fourth, SEOSU was sixth, Southern Nazarene seventh and UAM and NWOSU rounded out the poll.
Arkansas Tech, HSU and SWOSU open their seasons at the Washburn Invitational on Sept. 13. Southern Nazarene will host UAM, Harding, SEOSU and NWOSU at the GAC Preview the same day.
The 2022 GAC Championships will be held at Hot Springs Country Club for the 10th time from April 10-12, 2022.