Photo/Amanda Daly Junior Katie Stowers sinks a 20-foot putt to secure second place for the Lady Tigers. Stowers placed second for the Lady Tigers with a score of 91. Photo/Amanda Daly Coach Shari Chastain and her Lady Tiger golf team took second place in the AA State Championshp golf tournament at Gold Creek on Monday. Pictured fromleft, are Katie Stowers, Kasay Holbrook, Chastain, Katie Turner and Charley Whitmire. Team Finish Metter, 169 Dawson County, 177 Pierce County, 181 Wesleyan, 181 Rabun County, 189 Savannah Christian, 189 Rockmart, 190 Buford, 195 Adairsville, 211 Bleckley County, 211 Vidalia, 220 Laney, 223 Cook County, 225 Berrien, 257 Heard County, 258 Pike County, 271 Top 10 Individual Golfers Tess Fordham, Metter, 78 Kasay Holbrook, Dawson County, 86 Ansley Parrish, Pierce County, 88 Heather Pittman, Vidalia, 88 Taylor Blair, Wesleyan, 88 Abby Johnson, Buford, 91 Katie Stowers, Dawson County, 91 Alex Hendricks, Metter, 91 Jessica Arthur, Rabun County, 92 Erynn Stewart, Adairsville, 93 Victoria Bennett, Pierce County, 93 Brittani Parks, Rockmart, 93 Caitlyn Cook, Savannah Christian, 93 Brooke Atkinson, Wesleyan Also today Kasay Holbrook signs with Presbyterian college To read the article, click here.

An average person would consider Monday to be a beautiful day with clear skies and temperatures hovering in the 70s. However, it turned out to be a monster at Gold Creek in the AA State Golf Tournament. Slick greens and difficult pin placements wreaked havoc with the best AA has to offer in girl's golf.

On treacherous hole 17, several golfers saw their scores inflated as shot after shot found the water hazard. Hole 17 requires that a golfer hit over water to a postage stamp green. There were only three birdies on the par 3 hole all day. Scores ranged from birdie to an 82 in what proved to be a separating factor in the final scoring.

Lady Tiger senior Kasay Holbrook carded an 86 to bring home second place in the individual event for the second year in a row. Holbrook, who will be playing at Division I Presbyterian College next spring, finished 8-strokes behind state champion Tess Fordham from Metter. Fordham shot a 78 for her second straight state AA title.

Holbrook had an up and down day for head coach Shari Chastain's Lady Tiger golf team. Despite having putting problems, Holbrook used her poise and competitiveness to earn the second place medal.

She shot a 42 on the front nine holes, with a birdie on number five, for a neat round of golf. On the hard back nine holes Holbrook came in with a 44, which was the second best back nine of the day. Fordham shot an amazing 42 to hold off Holbrook who was charging for the lead at the end.

For the team title it came down to hole number 18. Junior Katie Stowers drained a putt from 20 feet to card a 91. The 91 was good enough to earn Dawson County a second place trophy in the state. She finished in a tie for fourth place overall, individually.

Stowers had a career day for the Lady Tigers. She picked a perfect time to shoot the best score of her golfing career. Stowers hit the ball well all day, as Chastain watched her sink the putt that gave Dawson the second place finish.

With Holbrook's 86 and Stowers 91 it gave Dawson a team total of 177. In high school girl's state competition only the two best scores count in the team total. The 177 is believed to be the best 18-hole total in Dawson County history.

The 177 wasn't good enough for the state title however, as Metter brought home the team title shooting a 169. Fordham shot a 78, while teammate Alex Hendricks shot a 91.

Katie Turner, playing in her last match for Dawson County, had a great day on the golf course at Gold Creek. Turner settled down after her first three holes and carded a 98 for the Lady Tigers. The senior had a wonderful career at Dawson. She improved each year, and came to be a great team leader and good golfer for Chastain's team.

Junior Charlie Whitmire hit almost every fairway and shot a 94 for the Lady Tigers. Putting was a problem for Whitmire, but her accuracy off the tee box kept her score low for the day. Whitmire is expected to be in the hunt for a state title next year, as her game continues to get better.

As the sun was setting Monday evening Chastain could be seen reflecting on another great year of Dawson County Lady Tiger golf. Drenched from the bath that her players gave her after the trophy celebration, Chastain continues to build a solid program at Dawson County. Each year the team is a threat to contend for the state title due to the hard work and dedication that Chastain seems to get out of every golfer that comes through her program.

Originally published Wednesday, May 7, 2008