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Storm delays girls’ start

County Girls Championship pushed back to 1 p.m.; officials still expect to play 18

Pleasant Valley junior Madilyn Turner packs her gear after Friday's first round was suspended until later in the day.

Pleasant Valley junior Madilyn Turner packs her gear after Friday’s first round was suspended until later in the day.

By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today

Madison Williams, the newest of the golf coaches in the county (at Donoho), posed the question outside the clubhouse as the rain pounded the metal roof.

What do you do for three hours?

Indeed. The heavy thunderstorms that blew through the area Friday morning forced a delay to the start of the Calhoun County Girls Golf Championship at Pine Hill Country Club until 1 p.m.

The players were ready to go at 8 a.m., but the storm was already hitting with full fury. Once the decision was made to delay, the players found themselves with a lot of time on their hands waiting out the weather and the golf course to drain. The players packed up their gear and scattered.

“I figured we’d have a delay,” Pleasant Valley junior Madilyn Turner said. “I’ll try to stay focused and not worry about it too much … Stay focused, eat, try to stay hydrated and get ready to play.”

Tournament officials are committed to playing 18 holes Friday, with the final 18 holes scheduled for Saturday at 8 a.m. A partial round Friday was discouraged due to scheduling conflicts among several schools, some of which prevented some teams from even participating.

“I would rather have a delay than get out in the middle of the course and come in,” Turner said. “It’s better to get it all in at one time. That way your rhythm’s not messed up.”

Alexandria coach Scott Ginn’s biggest concern was any unforeseen circumstance that would delay or prevent the players from getting back to the course. He has no doubt the passing storm would “change the course of the tournament now” with the altered conditions.

As it was, the field was going to play lift, clean and place.

“I thought we’d play a couple holes,” Ginn said. “I didn’t know it’d rain and lightning for this long.”

The rain was still falling at 10 a.m., but there were no players or coaches in sight.

So what were the players going to do with all that time? Some were headed to the nearest golf superstore to restock their wet-weather gear. Others?

“We’re going to go practice,” one White Plains player said as she headed out the door.


Calhoun County Girls Championship
First-round tee assignments

Hole 1 – Cindy Lopez, Anniston; Autumn Arenth, Saks.
2 – Cassia Rissler, Ohatchee; Caitlyn Roland, Jacksonville; Jacqueline Lopez, Anniston.
3 – Celia Landers, Jacksonville; Brylea Holden, Pleasant Valley; Cheyenne James, Saks.
5 – Maria Limberis, Jacksonville; Tia Collins, Saks.
6 – Jordan Pope, Saks; Candice Gagnon, Oxford; Abbie Vingers, Sacred Heart.
8 – Hannah Dyar, White Plains; Taylor Snow, Alexandria; Morgan Patterson, Oxford.
9 – Madilyn Turner, Pleasant Valley; Olivia Parsons, Alexandria; Kayla Huckeba, Oxford.
10 – Keaton Beam, White Plains; Savannah Chaffin, Alexandria; Alexa Cunningham, Donoho.
12 – Macey Pressley, White Plains; Morgan Mayfield, Alexandria; Madison Huckaby, Donoho.
13 – Morgan Prickett, White Plains; Abby Stevens, Alexandria; Sarah Campbell, Donoho.
14 – Raegan Thompson, White Plains; Katie Roberts, Alexandria; Anna Marie Woodfin, Donoho.
15 – Layne Dyar, White Plains; Jordan Gregoria, Alexandria; Chloe Borders, JCA.

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