The Savannah Christian Boys Golf team had a memorable afternoon on Tuesday as they achieved the high honor of winning the City Championship between public and private school golf teams.
Article from the Savannah Morning News
BY MIKE BROWN for the Savannah Morning News
Rachel Wohn of Savannah Arts Academy shot a career-best 35 and won her third straight Savannah City High School individual championship in the girls division Tuesday at Bacon Park Golf Course.
Savannah Christian’s long-hitting James Wohler shot a two-over par 73 to take medalist honors in the boys division.
Their teams needed those performances as they both won the team championship for the second straight year.
SAA had to go four extra playoff holes to beat Saint Vincent’s Academy, while the Raiders had a team total of 319 to edge Benedictine by one shot.
Wohn, a petite, sweet swinging junior, had a solid round with one birdie, one bogey and seven pars. She also had a crucial birdie on the third hole of the playoff to keep her team alive. The girls played nine holes.
“This means so much to me,” Wohn said. “I live and breathe golf. It’s so good to see my hard work rewarded.
“It was intense,” she added about the playoff. “I couldn’t be prouder of my teammates. They didn’t falter under pressure.”
With the two low scores counting in the girls division the Panthers got a 46 from Alivia Rukman while Tricia Reisman had a 40 and Rin Richardson a 41 for Saint Vincent’s.
In the boys division Wohler’s closest pursuer was Demetrius Vasilakes of Islands who finished three shots back at 76. Davis Bush of Savannah Christian, Andrew Scarano of Benedictine and Chris Hirata of Savannah Country Day all shot 77 as they were the only golfers in the field to break 80.
“I hit the ball pretty well,” Wohler said. I hit nearly every fairway and green. There were some tough pin placements. I just concentrated on getting on the green and two putting…the greens were great.”
Wohler, who said he drives the ball about 290 yards, was one-under par through his first six holes—his group started on No. 10—before suffering a double bogey.
“I birdied the next hole,” Wohler said. “I made the turn in even par and played the back in two over.
“Winning this tournament means a lot to me,” Wohler said. “This is the one tournament I’ve wanted to win since my freshman year.”
Savannah Christian Coach Darryl Siddel was not surprised by Wohler’s win, noting that in the Raiders’ seven matches this spring Wohler had been the medalist six times. Wohler is committed to play at South Carolina.
“He’s very long and straight off the tee,” Siddel said. “He’s very precise with his irons. His short game is average, and if he would work on his putting he would be great, but overall he’s a very good player.
“He’s got a great work ethic, and he’s a great teammate. A guy who really came through for us today was Davis Bush. He’s been up and down this year, but he’s capable of doing what he did today.”
Bush, a freshman, is the Raiders’ No. 4 player, but his 77 meant the margin of victory over the Cadets, who had won the tournament six years in a row before losing to the Raiders last year.
SAVANNAH CHRISTIAN (319): James Wohler 73, Davis Bush 77, Andrew Ewaldsen 84, Brian Boulware 85, Brody Sessions 87, Edwin Shephard 89.
SAVANNAH CHRISTIAN GIRLS (111): Teagan Fisher 53, Abbie Mikulsky 58, Grace Stacy 63.