By Rubin E. Grant
Spain Park junior golfer Chase Kyes won his second consecutive Class 7A individual state championship, but he was more excited about what his team accomplished.
The Jaguars finished with a 5-over 439 total to close 10 strokes ahead of three-time defending champion Vestavia Hills, which shot 449, and claimed the Class 7A state title in the weather-shortened 2024 AHSAA State Golf Championships May 13-14 at the Robert Trent Jones Trail Golf Course in Florence.
“It’s pretty cool to win the individual title, especially this time doing it with the team,” Kyes said. “That makes it more fun.”
Dethroning Vestavia Hills made it extra sweet.
“They’ve gotten us the last few years, so it was good to finally get them,” Kyes said.
The state tournament had to be reduced from 36 holes to 27 because of the weather.
Kyes came in 5-under par overall with a two-day 105 total to earn low medalist honors. He shot a 71 the first day and carded a 34 with four birdies over nine holes the second day.
“The first day I didn’t putt well,” Kyes said. “I hit the ball good, but I just couldn’t make any putts. I knew if I made more putts I could win it. When I made one or two putts the second day that gave me more confidence.”
Kyes, who has committed to Alabama, was a little disenchanted he didn’t get to play a full round on the second day, but he’ll take the win.
“I was disappointed it ended early cause I wanted to get back at the course, but I have no regrets about how it ended,” he said.
The title was Spain Park’s first since 2016 and eighth overall.
While Kyes led the way, Spain Park coach Keat Litton said the Jags’ other golfers deserve credit, too.
“It helps to have the best player in the state and him playing well, but if we didn’t have the other scorers, we wouldn’t have been able to pull it off,” Litton said. “All the scorers have played for four years, and they played well when we needed them to.”
Wes Sauceda shot 74-39 for a 113 total to finish ninth. Ian Norman finished with a two-day total of 116 for 11th place. Luke Ballentine and Davis Gurley both had a 121 total to finish tied for 17th.
Vestavia Hills’ top finisher was Pierce Baker, who shot 69-40 – 109 to finish tied for fourth. The Rebels’ Gus Darnell finished with a 115 total for 10th place and teammate Clark Brown was a stroke back at 116 to place 11th.
Litton said the Jags entered the tournament brimming with confidence after finishing ahead of Vestavia Hills the previous week at the Class 7A, North 6 Sub-State tournament at Timberline Golf Club in Calera.
Kyes and Ballintine both finished 6-under with rounds of 66 at sub-state, leading the Jags to a round of 12-under 276. The Rebels were second at 285.
“At Timberline, we beat Vestavia for the first time,” Litton said. “They had won the other three times we had played them, including sectional. Beating them at sub-state gave our kids confidence.”
Litton enjoyed watching his golfers revel in their state championship triumph.
“It was a lot of fun to see them celebrate,” he said. “They’re so close and such good friends.”
