After qualifying for the state sectional with a runner-up finish in Region 8-AAAA, the Eastside Lady Eagles golf team will continue its march through the postseason, this time at the state tournament at Waynesboro Country Club.

Eastside finished third overall at the Class AAAA sectional, joining Burke County, Wayne County, Perry, Stephens County, Statesboro, Johnson and Mary Persons as state finalists at the event.

The Lady Eagles posted a team total score of 302, edging Perry by two strokes to finish third overall.

Eastside coach Judy Smith said that she still sees improvement out of her players, which bodes well for the team heading into the state tournament.

“Even this late into the season, our team continues to improve,” Smith said. “I am so proud of what they have accomplished this far and expect that they will complete well at the state tournament.”

Autumn Whiten paced the Lady Eagles with a low round of 93, while Brittany Medlin and Taylor Maddox finished with rounds of 101 and 108, respectively. Alexis Allen also shot a 117 for the Lady Eagles.

Burke County placed first at the Class AAAA sectional led by Rylie Marchman’s 75. Burke County’s team score of 277 was 11 strokes better than second place Wayne County. The Lady Yellow Jackets finished with a team total of 288 and were led in scoring by London Stuckey’s round of 85.

Cairo’s Kayla Wilbourn led the field in low-scoring finalist whose teams did not advance to the state tournament, registering an 80 for the Lady Syrupmakers.

Walnut Grove’s Abigail Coker (86) and West Laurens’ Baylee Bruton (92) also finished in the top-3 of the non-qualifying low-medalists.

Eastside qualified for the sectional event after shooting a 303 at the Region 4-AAAA championships. Allen led the Lady Eagles with a 94.

The Class AAAA girls state tournament will begin May 19 in Waynesboro.

Boys’ sectional

While the Eastside boys golf team already punched its ticket to the state tournament, eight other teams in Class AAAA earned a state tournament bid at the boys Class AAAA sectional.

Dalton, LaGrange, Richmond Academy, Pickens, Heritage (Catoosa), Stephens County, Veterans and Carrollton finished in the top-8 of the sectional event, moving on to the state tournament May 19.

Dalton High School led the teams in low-team qualifying, posting a team total of 311. Davis Kirk led the Catamounts with a low round of 77.

LaGrange (317) and Richmond Academy rounded out the top-3 with scores of 317 and 324, respectively.

Dutchtown’s Fisk Stevens led individual low-medalist finalists with a 68 for teams that did not qualify for the state tournament.

The Class AAAA state tournament will be held at Westlake Country Club in Martinez, Georgia.