By Blake Ells
Mountain Brook sealed their third consecutive state championship in boys golf with a second round 7-over 295 on May 14.
Their team total for the state tournament at the Robert Trent Jones at Capitol Hill course in Prattville was a 588, 11 strokes ahead of second-place McGill-Toolen from Mobile and 13 strokes ahead of Vestavia Hills.
It was Austin Coogin of Vestavia Hills who earned low medalist honors, shooting 4-under 68 on Tuesday and 5-under 139 on the tournament. But a pair of Spartans tied for second, as Reynolds Lambert and Gordon Sargent each shot a 1-under 143.
Reynolds, a senior, joined the varsity team as a sophomore. He has been part of each of the three consecutive state championship teams.
“Over the last few years, we have had really good individual players,” Reynolds said. “But what we focused on this year was the chemistry between us; always being able to help each other and motivate each other. I felt like that was a big part of what we did this year to win.”
It was the eighth boys’ golf state championship in Mountain Brook High School history; the fourth in the past five years.
“We’re all really close,” Reynolds said. “Not only during the season, but we play together throughout the entire year. We’re all really good friends. I think that helped.”
The Spartans have raised the bar on standard expectations under coach Alex Lockett’s watch. Several players have gone on to play collegiately, including Reynolds, who will play at Furman this fall. Reynolds is optimistic about the team that he leaves behind and the legacy that he hopes they will carry on.
“I’ll be following them,” Reynolds said. “When I’m back, I’ll be playing with the guys on the team and coach Lockett.”
He’ll play in some tournaments this summer as he prepares for the move to South Carolina. He will compete in several qualifiers; he’ll also compete in the Palmetto Amateur. His primary focus, however, will be to qualify as he hopes to compete in national tournaments.
