The Gilbert girls golf team in only its 5th year of having a team are defending state champions.

In the 6th year, the Lady Indians are returning most of last year’s Class 3A championship team. Head coach Dru Nix is excited about her teams start.

“Kennedy Gooding, Alexis Hodge, Edie Rainey Hardee, and Meredith Price all playing well,” he said. “We have 1 win and the rest 2nd place finishes in the 5 events we have played this season. What’s most impressive is the fact that we have broken our team record twice already and the season is still young.

“At Columbia Country Club, we shot 305, our best team score ever, finished 2nd to Blythewood and did not have 1 individual make the All-Tournament team.”

This result speaks to just how well Gilbert is playing as a team.

Gooding is a senior and is committed to play college golf at Anderson University. Gooding is currently ranked 10th in the state while Alexis Hodge, Gilbert’s other senior, is 20th.

Meredith Price and Edie Rainey Hardee are ranked 48th and 56th, according to the Heritage SC Junior Golf Association rankings.

In most high school golf competitions, 5 players comprise the team. These play stroke play as individuals then the lowest 4 scores make up the team score.

River Bluff is led by coach Roger Smith. It has a senior named Mina Gencoguz who will be quite an addition to Smith’s Lady Gators. She is a member of the Turkish National golf team which recently placed 4th in the world team championship.

“I am a US citizen and I want to play golf at Lander next year,” she said. “We thought it would be a good idea to come to America a year early in preparation for my college experience.”

Cathy Hill is starting a brand new girls team in Swansea. Be sure to stay tuned for next week as part of her story will be told and it is quite unique.

Hill has a secret golf growing recipe that will be revealed. FYI, she is a former University of South Carolina golfer who was a great player who has great passion for golf.

More next week on high school girls golf and now the focus will be on family recreational golf. Each of the local recreation commissions will offer fall family and junior golf programming. What’s unique about these programs is that the entire family learns together in a “Learn through play” setting. Visit the local websites:

http://richlandcountyrecreation.com/fall-golf-programs-at-linrick-golf-course/

https://sports.bluesombrero.com/lcrac .