FALL SPORTS

The faces may change but one constant remains the same.

Year in and year out, the Lexington Highol girls’ golf team remains the team to beat in Class 5A.

The 2-time defending state champions opened the season with 4 straight tournament wins.

After claiming the Blue Jacket Invitational by 25 strokes, Lexington claimed the Palmetto Preview Sept. 4 by 5 strokes over defending champions St. James (Class 4A), Oceanside Collegiate (Class 3A) and Class 5A runner-up Boiling Springs.

The next day, the Lady Wildcats won a tri-match over defending Class 3A champion Cardinal Newman and A.C. Flora.

Lexington closed out the week by winning the Trojan Invitational at Waterford Golf Club in Rock Hill.

Even with the graduation of Gracyn Burgess, the Lady Wildcats still field a young, but experienced team.

“I think with the younger group of leaders, complacency isn’t in their thought process,” Lexington head coach Charles Smith said. “I think they see this as their team and their time to lead it.”

Freshmen Isabella Rawl and Molly Hardwick, who both earned All-State honors last year, and sophomore Karlee Vardas and freshman Molly Hard-wick have dominated the top of the standings in the respective team tournaments.

Individually, the Lady Wildcats’ trio have performed well as well.

Rawl has placed 1st in 3 of 4 tournaments and Hardwick experienced a breakthrough this past summer. She won the Beth Daniel Junior Azaela at the Country Club of Charleston.

Vardas placed 2nd in the Girls 13-15 group at the Harvey Brock Orange Jacket Classic at Pickens Golf Club.

She rallied on Day 2 with a 2-under par 70 to take the runner-up trophy.

“I think all of our players are committed to playing year-round golf and that contributes to the success of our program,” Smith said. “It’s easy to identify Issabella, Karlee and Molly because of their successes in the off-season, but all of our girls understand the importance of playing year round.

“I think that all 3 of those girls have competed at a very high level in summer tournaments and that does nothing but help us be more successful as a team.”

Sophomore Emily Beiers and freshman Bella Bernagozzi round out the starting five. Bernagozzi is coming off a career-best score of 84 at the Trojan Invitational.

“Obviously, Emily and Bella are going to be a big part of our team this year as our number 4 and 5,” Smith said. “They are working hard and understand that it is their team to step up and help achieve the goals we set.”

After 3 events were cancelled due to Hurricane Florence, the team returns to action Wednesday for the Wildcat Invite at Mid-Carolina Country Club in Prosperity.

VOLLEYBALL

(Sept. 17 scores)

• Gilbert 3, White Knoll 0 (25-17, 26-24, 25-17)

The Lady Indians improved to 8-1 overall following the non-region win. Chidera Wilson had 6 kills, Courtney Price had 5 kills and Carlee Jones had 5 kills to lead Gilbert.

(Sept. 10 scores)

• River Bluff 3, A.C. Flora 0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-20)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

•The Dutch Fork baseball golf program will take place Sept. 22 at North-woods Golf Club in Columbia.

The tournament will benefit the Silver Foxes’ baseball program. The cost is $85 per player or $340 per team and will cover door prizes, raffle, mulligans, goody bags and lunches.

There is also a $100 hole sponsorship fee available. The registration deadline is Sept. 12 when a $100 deposit is required.

Email a list of teams to President.DFBBC@gmail.com .