“To be the best, you have to play the best,” is an old saying that coaches throw around a lot. It means to win championships your team has to play championship teams. That’s what the Dawson County Lady Tiger golf team did last week.

Head Coach Shari Chastain’s golfers matched up against Gainesville High School, who boasts one of the elite golfers in the state in Cameron Cole.

The Lady Tigers traveled to Chattahoochee Golf Course on Tuesday and dropped their first match of the year to Gainesville 92-102. Dawson was able to defeat Johnson in the tri-match 102-111.

Lady Tiger seniors Charley Whitmire and Katie Stowers shot a 50 and 52 respectively.

Despite a back injury for Whitmire and Stowers battling a cold, the duo out shot the entire field except for Gainesville’s Cole who shot a 38.

Sophomore Rachel Dotson shot a career best 52 for the Lady Tigers.

Wednesday, the Lady Tigers bounced back to defeat Gilmer County at Crystal Falls Golf Course. Dawson came away with a 108-128 victory.

Whitmire and Stowers were given the day off because of their ailments. Junior Erin Pruitt, 53, and sophomore Rachel Dotson, 55, led the team to victory.

The Lady Tigers and Lady Elephants met again on Thursday at Chestatee Golf Club. In a much closer match, Gainesville came away with another win 94-98.

The match was even for the first seven holes between the two golfers. Cole sank a birdie putt, on the ninth hole, from off the green to seal the head to head match-up with Whitmire. Cole finished with a 9-hole total of 38 to Whitmire’s 42. The 42 was Whitmire’s best 9-hole round of the season.

Junior Rachel Dotson shot a 56 to match Gainesville’s Leanne Nobel.

The Lady Tigers team currently has a 7-2 record for the season.

The boys’ team came away with a 162-203 win over Gilmer County last Wednesday. With the victory, Dawson currently has an overall record of 5-2.

Wesley Bearden shot a career best 9-hole round of 36 to lead the Tigers.

Cody Palmer, 41, Nick Fitts, 42, and Zach Williams, 42, also contributed to the Tiger win.

Both Tiger teams will play again Wednesday at Double Oaks Golf Course against East Jackson.

Starting tee time will be 4 p.m.