The Adairsville Lady Tigers overcame an early deficit on Thursday night to win their softball season opener at Southeast Whitfield 5-3. The Raiders scored twice in the bottom of the first inning for an early lead before Adairsville responded with five runs between the third and sixth innings to capture the victory. Pitcher Jordan Clay went all seven frames in the circle to collect the win. She allowed just one earned run on eight hits and two walks. Clay fanned five. Kylie Perine (two RBI), Brie Patterson, and Cheyenne Gunter paced the Tigers’ offense with two hits. Taylor Evans drove in two runs with a double. Ansley Powell and Alivia Joslin added one hit. Adairsville (1-0) hosts Pepperell on Monday at 5:55 p.m. CARTERSVILLE 4, MURRAY COUNTY 2 The host Lady Canes posted three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning Thursday night on their way to a 4-2 win over Murray County. The Indians took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth before Zoie Shiflett hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the frame. Shiflett also picked up the pitching win by working six innings in the circle. She allowed two earned runs on two hits and one walk with four strikeouts. Pressley Crabbe earned a pitching save with a scoreless seventh inning. Lakaiya Banks had two hits for the Hurricanes. Jordan Bishop (double), Reese Dumas, Kinsey Woodard, and Allana Williams contributed one hit. Layne Callan added one RBI. Cartersville (1-0) visits Dalton on Tuesday for a 5:30 p.m. first pitch and both teams’ first Region 7-4A game.

July 31, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Cartersville golfer R.B. Clyburn continued a season of strong performances this week by successfully defending his Georgia State Golf Association Match Play Championship title at Old Toccoa Farm in Mineral Bluff. Clyburn advanced out of Pod 1 on Sunday and Monday with competitors Christopher Demetree of Johns Creek, Ethan Kolisz of Valdosta, and Cameron Hood of Milton.  Despite shooting a 2-under-par 70, he dropped a 2-up match with Kolisz before rallying for a 5-up win over Demetree and a 6-up victory over Hood. Those wins sent him into the Round of 16 on Tuesday in the single-elimination bracket. Facing James Baker of Johns Creek in the Round of 16, Clyburn fired a 68 on the par-72, 6,655-yard course. Baker matched him with five birdies and one bogey on the round and sent the match to an extra hole by dropping a birdie on the 18th hole. Clyburn responded with a birdie on the first extra hole to advance. Against Chase Long of Buckhead in the Round of 8, he finished off the match in just 14 holes. Clyburn won the first three holes and extended his lead to 4-up through five holes.  After Long won the seventh hole, Clyburn reeled off four wins over the next six holes to close out the match. In the Wednesday morning semifinals, Clyburn topped Jacob Arnett of Kennesaw, 2&1. With the match even through the first six holes, Clyburn won No. 7, No. 9, and No. 11 to take a 3-up lead. Arnett won two of the next three holes but Clyburn matched him with two pars and a birdie on No. 15, No. 16, and No. 17 to close the match and reach the afternoon finals. His opponent in the finals was Preston Topper of Gainesville. Topper had wins over Keith Guest, Payne Sells, and Finley Burke to win his side of the bracket. Clyburn started quickly again in the championship match by winning five of the first nine holes en route to a 2-under-par 34 and a 3-up lead. Topper narrowed the margin to 2-up through 13 holes, but Clyburn made birdies on No. 15 and No. 16 to claim a 4-up victory.

July 29, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com The three local Minor League Baseball players returned to action recently following baseball’s All-Star break with the two pitchers making a pair of starts each in the past week. MiLB MASON BARNETT — Northwest Arkansas Naturals (3rd-yr. pro; Kansas City Royals Double-A affiliate; Texas League; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … made home pitching starts July 23 and this past Sunday against the Arkansas Travelers working six innings in each appearance. On Sunday he scattered two hits and two walks and kept the visitors off the scoreboard earning his fifth win of the season. Northwest eventually won 8-6 to go 3-3 for the week. On the 23rd he allowed two earned runs on two hits and four walks and was tagged with the loss as the Naturals fell 6-1. The 23-year-old right-hander struck out eight in each start. Barnett is 5-6 in 18 starts in 2024 with a 4.91 ERA in 91-⅔ innings pitched. Northwest Arkansas is 13-13 in the Texas League second-half standings and trails the Springfield Cardinals by 3-½ games. The Naturals (48-47 overall) play a six-game series this week at the Wichita Wind Surge.  LOGAN MARTIN — Columbia Fireflies (2nd-yr. pro; Kansas City Royals Single-A affiliate; Carolina League; Kentucky; Cartersville HS) … made pitching starts this past Sunday and Tuesday (July 23) in a home series with the Lynchburg Hillcats. He worked five innings on the 23rd and yielded just one run on three hits in an eventual 13-1 victory. He issued no walks and struck out seven to collect his second win of the year. In a no-decision start on Sunday, the 22-year-old pitched 3-⅔ innings and allowed three earned runs on four hits and one walk with five Ks. Martin (2-3) has made 18 appearances (12 starts) this season covering 70-⅔ innings. He has a 4.33 ERA and 69 strikeouts with three saves out of the bullpen. Columbia is 15-13 in the Carolina League’s second-half standings and trails the Charleston RiverDogs by 3 games in the South Division. The Fireflies (50-43 overall) play six games at the Fayetteville Woodpeckers this week. ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (7th-yr. pro; NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; Eastern League; Cartersville HS) … in nine home games since the All-Star break, Seigler is just 2-for-20 at the plate appearing in three against the Altoona Curve and six against the Portland Sea Dogs. He added four walks, a stolen base, two RBI, and scored two runs. In 239 official at-bats this season, the 25-year-old has a .209 batting average with seven homers and 31 RBI. He has swiped 18 bases and scored 34 runs with a .320 on-base percentage. Somerset is 16-11 in the Eastern League’s second-half standings trailing the Hartford Yard Goats by one-half game in the Northeast Division. The Patriots (48-48 overall) visit the Bowie Baysox this week for a six-game series. PGA CHAMPIONS TOUR JASON BOHN — Champions Senior Tour (Acworth, 51, 33-yr. pro; Cartersville CC member)  … shot 80-83 last Thursday and Friday and missed the cut at The Senior British Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Club in Scotland. K.J. Choi won the title by two shots over Richard Green with a four-day, 10-under-par total (69-69-70-70). The PGA Champions Tour schedule moves to the Boeing Classic August 9-11 in Snoqualmie, Washington.

July 26, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com The 2024 high school softball season begins this week with all four local teams opening their campaigns. Two local squads — Cartersville and Woodland — will seek to make return trips to the state playoffs while Adairsville and Cass will look to get back into the post-season mix. All four teams will face some new competition in 2024 for state playoff berths as the Georgia High School Association realignment begins for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years. The local coaches provided a season preview glance at their respective teams. CARTERSVILLE HURRICANES Head Coach: Glen Woodard Last Season: 21-11 overall; 13-2 in Region 7-5A; Region Champs Hosted and won their state playoff super-regional before losing two straight games in the Final Eight state tournament in Columbus. New Region: 7-4A includes Allatoona, Cass, Cedartown, Dalton, Hiram, Southeast Whitfield, and Woodland. The Lady Canes return nine starters from last season’s region title squad with a pair of newcomers — freshman Pressley Crabbe and junior transfer Kinsey Woodard — expected to contribute immediately. Sophomore pitcher Zoie Shiflett was the Region Pitcher of the Year last season as a freshman and Senior Kennedy Stevens will share some of the innings in the pitching circle. Offensively, Cartersville will be led by senior Jordan Bishop who collected Region Player of the Year honors last season. Layne Callan (Sr.), Reese Dumas (Sr.), Kennedy Crenshaw (So.), and Shiflett bring offense to the lineup as well. “We have won the region back-to-back years, so everyone will be coming for us,” remarked Woodard. “We have worked hard in the weight room this offseason and I expect us to be up for the challenge. Woodland is always considered a playoff contender and I expect Allatoona will be right in the mix as well. Dalton returns their best pitcher so they will compete.” The Lady Canes will host Villa Rica in a scrimmage on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. and will open the regular season on Thursday with a home game against Murray County at 5:30 p.m. WOODLAND WILDCATS Head Coach: Erika Cook Last Season: 20-12 overall; 10-5 Region 7-5A Lost state playoff games to Villa Rica and Cambridge at the Villa Rica Super Regional New Region:  7-4A includes Allatoona, Cartersville, Cass, Cedartown, Dalton, Hiram, and Southeast Whitfield. The Lady Cats return eight starters from last season’s region runner-up lineup. Returnees include Bailey Ryan (shortstop), Kamryn Smith (third base/pitcher), Ashlyn Baines (utility/pitcher), Alana Carnes (second base), Mackenzie Araya (first base), Bitsy Hartsfield (catcher), Jordan Hammonds (centerfield), Lanie Calhoun (outfield). New head coach Erika Cook named five newcomers expected to contribute immediately: Carley Aspenwall, Charlee Byrd, Raya Taft, and freshman pitchers Evie Tucker and Gracie Korb. Ashlyn Baines and Smith are expected to carry the bulk of the pitching load for Woodland. Cook credits their ability to work the strike zone with a variety of pitches. On offense, the Lady Cats will lean on the bats and speed of Hammonds and Carnes with Hartsfield and Smith providing some power pop. The Woodland coach also noted the ability to get on base provided by Araya and Baines. “We have a strong team with various players bringing something different to the table,” added Cook. “I expect us to compete with Cartersville in the region race.” Woodland will open the 2024 regular season with a doubleheader on Saturday, August 3 at Union County. CASS COLONELS Head Coach: Taylor Washington Last Season: 9-18 overall, 3-12 in Region 7-5A Did not qualify for the state playoffs New Region:  7-4A includes Allatoona, Cartersville, Cedartown, Dalton, Hiram, Southeast Whitfield, and Woodland. The Lady Colonels had a three-year streak of qualifying for the state playoffs snapped last year but will seek a return to the post-season in 2024 with ten returning starters. Cayce Brown (LF), Darianna Sosa (SS), Payton Mize (RF), Braelyn Franklin (2B), Harlee Thomason (3B/1B), Bailey York (Utility-P/C/INF), Emma Gibson (P/OF), KK Evans (CF), Erin Clinard (C/INF), and Lily Powell (P) all made starts in 2023. In addition, three upcoming freshmen are expected to contribute in significant ways. Kylie Gentry and Chloe Hill will see time in the pitching circle and Sydney Satterfield will see time at catcher and in the field. Coach Washington noted that all three newcomers have been competitive at the plate in summer action. The Cass coach also noted that Molli Morrow will be eligible this season as a junior catcher and will provide some offensive power. The Lady Colonels will present a staff of five pitchers: York, Gibson, Powell, Gentry, and Hill. “We get a lot of variation in terms of speed and spin from each of these players,” noted Washington. “We plan to use them according to matchups along with a rotation.” The Cass offense will revolve around senior Darianna Sosa. She was the Colonels’ offensive leader in multiple categories last season. Sosa hits for power but also has quickness and the ability to challenge defenses using small ball. “Our coaching staff is extremely excited about this upcoming season, stated Washington. “This fall, we are going to have the capability of moving girls around to determine what puts us in the best position to win. That may change from game to game depending on matchups. We can do this because so many of our girls are utility players and each of them has been working hard offensively to be able to produce wherever and however we may ask them to do that.” Washington expects the new region to be competitive from top to bottom. “We cannot take any team lightly and will have to be ready to compete in each matchup to earn a top-four spot,” the coach added. “We have a talented group, but we want to take it game-by-game and not get caught looking ahead to things we are not able to control.” Cass begins the 2024 regular season on Friday at Wheeler with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. ADAIRSVILLE TIGERS Head coach: Justin Evans Last Season: 6-18 overall, 3-11 in Region 6-3A Did not qualify for the state playoffs New Region: 7-3A includes Calhoun, Gilmer, Heritage-Catoosa, LaFayette, Northwest Whitfield, Ridgeland The Lady Tigers will return a few starters from last season including Ashlynn Durden, Brie Patterson, Ashlyn Carlton, Gabi Becerra, and Riley Mounger. Coach Evans also welcomes the addition of freshmen Ansley Powell and Maddie Baggett who are expected to contribute right away. Powell will start at shortstop and bat in the leadoff spot. Baggett will be an addition to the pitching staff. Three pitchers will make up the Tigers’ rotation — Shorter University commit Jordan Clay, junior Carlton, and freshman Baggett. Clay and Baggett will rely on spin for weaker contact while Carlton will throw with more velocity. Coach Evans expressed excitement over the offensive potential for this season’s team and identified several players expected to produce including Mounger, Durden, senior Taylor Evans, Carlton, senior and Lee commit Paterson, and Powell. “Riley Mounger had a great summer,” noted Evans. “She hit for power and average. She can also lay a bunt down and swipe a base making her a multifaceted threat. Durden and Evans have gap power while Carlton and Patterson can smack a homer at any time. Powell is just a hard-nosed player with the ability to reach base, steal, and score runs.” The Adairsville coach spoke about 2024 expectations.“This season’s team is completely different than last season. We started working during the off-season and we put in the hours this summer. We want a taste of the playoffs. It has been a very long time since Adairsville softball played a playoff game. We want to change that. Adding new assistant coaches has been crucial in our player development.” “We know Heritage will be solid again,” added Evans. “Lafayette always puts together a great team too.” The Lady Tigers begin their 2024 campaign on Thursday, August 1 at Southeast Whitfield at 5 p.m.

July 16, 2024 The Woodland High School girls soccer team and head coach Kyle Morgan were recognized this past week as a Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Gold Award winner by the United Soccer Coaches. Thirty-six teams across the country were recognized for exhibiting fair play, sporting behavior, and adherence to the laws of the game. The Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Award is given to United Soccer Coaches members at four levels. Teams honored at the platinum level went an entire season without a player or coach receiving a yellow card or red card. Teams honored at the gold (1-10%), silver (11-30%), and bronze (31-50%) levels are based on a percentage calculated by the total number of cards received by players and coaches divided by the team’s total number of games played.

July 15, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com This week’s edition of Athletes Beyond Bartow includes an update on the three local Minor League Baseball players plus former Cartersville High quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s inaugural appearance at the American Century Golf Championship in Lake Tahoe. CELEBRITY GOLF TREVOR LAWRENCE — — Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL; 4th-yr. pro; QB; Clemson; Cartersville HS) … participating in his first American Century Golf Championship on July 12-14 at the 6,709-yard, par-72 Edgewood Tahoe South Golf Club in Stateline, Nevada, the 24-year-old tied for 44th place and totaled 12 points. The celebrity-laden modified Stableford scoring golf tournament attracts pro athletes from football, baseball, basketball, hockey and tennis; plus actors and entertainers. Lawrence shot rounds of 84-90-76 during the three-day event. His Sunday round included three birdies. Tennis star, Mardy Fish, won the tournament with rounds of 71-65-69 (83 points) to win by four points over NHL star Joe Pavelski. Hall of Fame golfer Annika Sorenstam, baseball Hall of Famer John Smoltz, and retired MLB pitcher Derek Lowe rounded out the top five. PGA CHAMPIONS TOUR JASON BOHN — Champions Senior Tour (Acworth, 51, 33-yr. pro; Cartersville CC member)  … following a recent layoff for several weeks, Bohn returned to action at the Kaulig Companies Championship this past week at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. Bohn finished in 75th place with rounds of 79-78-74-71. The tournament was won by Ernie Els (10-under-par) by one shot over Y.E. Yang. Jerry Kelly was third at 7-under-par. MiLB MASON BARNETT — Northwest Arkansas Naturals (3rd-yr. pro; Kansas City Royals Double-A affiliate; Texas League; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … started on the mound this past Saturday and collected his fourth win of the season in a 10-9 Northwest Arkansas victory at the Frisco RoughRiders. The right-handed hurler went five innings and surrendered just one earned run on four hits and two walks. He struck out three of the 22 batters faced and was in the strike zone for 63 percent of his pitches. The 23-year-old is 4-5 this season in 17 appearances (16 starts) and has 93 strikeouts in 79-⅔ innings pitched. The Naturals (43-44 overall) are 8-10 in the Texas League’s second-half race and will resume their schedule after the All-Star break with a three-game, home series against the Tulsa Drillers. LOGAN MARTIN — Columbia Fireflies (2nd-yr. pro; Kansas City Royals Single-A affiliate; Carolina League; Kentucky; Cartersville HS) … was touched for six earned runs and was tagged with the Fireflies’ pitching loss last Tuesday (July 9) at the Charleston RiverDogs. The 22-year-old faced 18 batters in three innings and allowed eight hits and a walk. His season record dropped to 1-3. The righty has made 16 appearances this season (11 starts) and has a 4.35 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 62 innings pitched. He has three saves in five relief appearances. Columbia (45-39 overall) is 10-9 in the Carolina League’s second-half schedule and has a three-game weekend series at home against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans following the All-Star break. ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (7th-yr. pro; NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; Eastern League; Cartersville HS) … in five starts last week in games at the Erie SeaWolves, the former catcher turned second baseman was 2-for-12 with six walks, a double, and two runs scored as Somerset finished the six-game series with two wins. The 25-year-old also added his 17th stolen base of the season. Seigler has a .219 batting average with seven homers and 29 RBI in 219 official at-bats. He had a season-best, 17-game on-base streak snapped last Friday. During that stretch, the Yankees’ 2018 first-round pick was 17-for-51 (.333) at the plate. The Patriots (43-44 overall) are 11-7 in the Eastern League’s second half race. Following the All-Star break, Somerset hosts a three-game weekend series with the Altoona Curve.

July 14, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Cartersville golfer R.B. Clyburn led the 103rd GSGA Amateur Championship at the midway point but slipped to a tie for 12th place at the 54-hole mark after shooting a 3-over-par 75 on Saturday. Clyburn charged back into contention on Sunday at the 6,950-yard, par-72 Augusta Country Club and shot 68 but finished in a tie for third place with Hayes Brown of Atlanta who plays golf at Wofford University. The pair finished 8-under-par for the 72-hole championship. Milton's Jake Peacock (University of South Florida) successfully defended his 2023 title by carding rounds of 68-70-67-70 (13-under-par) to edge Thomasville's Brycen Jones (Georgia Southern University) by one shot. Two players -- William Love of Atlanta who played at Duke and won the title in 2022 and Cooper Tendick of Kennesaw (University of West Florida) -- tied for fifth place at 7-under-par. Clyburn shot 69 on Thursday and 68 on Friday for the 36-hole lead. His round on Thursday included six birdies and three bogeys. On Friday he carded five more birdies with only one bogey. Saturday's round included three birdies but five bogeys and one double-bogey saw him slip behind the leaders. Clyburn bounced back on Sunday with a seven-birdie round including six birdies over his final eleven holes. The starting field of 144 players was cut to the low 60 and ties after Friday’s round. Sixty-six players made the 4-over-par cut. Two other local players — Dalton Henson of Rydal and Jake Wehunt of Cartersville — failed to qualify for the final two rounds. Henson shot 77-79. Wehunt shot 76-81. The Georgia Amateur Championship began in 1916 when 14-year-old Bobby Jones captured the inaugural title. The tournament is open to male amateur golfers who are GSGA members and are residents of Georgia. The 103rd Georgia Amateur Championship is an official USGA Exemption Event, which carries an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club for Peacock and an exemption into U.S. Amateur Final Qualifying for Clyburn and the remainder of the top five finishers.  As champion, Peacock also received an exemption into the 2025 Jones Cup Invitational at Ocean Forest Golf Club and an exemption into the final qualifying stage for the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship.

July 12, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Cartersville golfer R.B. Clyburn leads defending champion Jake Peacock of Milton (University of South Florida) and Cooper Tendick of Kennesaw (University of West Florida) by one shot at the midway point of the 103rd GSGA Georgia Amateur Golf Championship at the 6,950-yard, par-72 Augusta Country Club. Clyburn shot 69 on Thursday and 68 on Friday for the 36-hole lead in the 72-hole event. His round on Thursday included six birdies and three bogeys. On Friday he carded five more birdies with only one bogey. The starting field of 144 players was cut to the low 60 and ties after Friday’s round. Sixty-five players made the 4-over-par cut. Two other local players — Dalton Henson of Rydal and Jake Wehunt of Cartersville — failed to qualify for the final two rounds. Henson shot 77-79. Wehunt shot 76-81. The Georgia Amateur Championship began in 1916 when 14-year-old Bobby Jones captured the inaugural title. The tournament is open to male amateur golfers who are GSGA members and are residents of Georgia. The 103rd Georgia Amateur Championship is an official USGA Exemption Event, which carries an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club for the winner and an exemption into U.S. Amateur Final Qualifying for the remainder of the top five finishers.  The winner shall also receive an exemption into the 2025 Jones Cup Invitational at Ocean Forest Golf Club and an exemption into the final qualifying stage for the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship.

July 11, 2024 A tough day for Cartersville’s Chad Branton brought his participation in the 2024 R&A British Senior Amateur Championship to a close on Thursday. The 55-year-old followed his first two rounds of 76 and 75 with an 82 and missed the tournament's second cut. The field was narrowed to 43 players following Thursday’s third round. Branton missed the final cut by one shot. Chris Dinsdale of Wales leads the Championship after 54 holes at 6-over-par. Dinsdale had recorded rounds of 71-73-75 and led England’s John Kemp by one shot. Brent Paterson of New Zealand is third and two shots back. Todd White (Spartanburg, SC), Paul Simson (Raleigh, NC), David Mulholland (England), and Paul Moultrie (Northern Ireland) are tied for fourth place at 9-over-par. Mark Strickland, a former Cartersville resident who now resides in the San Diego area, is tied for 26th place heading into Friday’s final round. Strickland, who now works for Yamaha Golf Car Company in southern California, has carded rounds of 76-76-77. The 2024 British Senior Amateur Championship is being contested in Saunton, England with the final 36 holes of the Championship on the 6,700-yard, par-71 Saunton-East Course.

July 11, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com The Bartow County Little League 14U baseball team won the 2024 Georgia Junior Little League state championship July 6-10 by going 4-0 in the double-elimination tournament hosted by Hamilton Crossing Park. Bartow County had wins over Peachtree City, Vine-Ingle, and two wins over Hart County to win the title. The local team outscored opponents 51-8 en route to the championship. Bartow advances to the Southeast Region Junior League tournament on July 19-23 in Bridgewater, Virginia. In last Saturday’s 12-1 win over Peachtree City, Hunter Dudley collected the pitching win by working into the fifth inning on the mound. He yielded just one, unearned run on two hits and three walks with three strikeouts. Darren Cole (1.1 IP, 2BB) and Nicholas Robinson pitched in relief. Robinson struck out the only batter he faced. The locals needed just seven hits in the opening round while taking advantage of 13 walks issued by Peachtree City pitchers and five errors. On Sunday, Bartow 14U was outhit by Vine-Ingle six to five, but a seven-run fifth inning helped lift the local team to a 10-5 victory. Elijah Bryant picked up the pitching win in relief of starting pitcher, Tyler Parker. Bryant entered in the third inning and went 3-⅓ innings while allowing just one earned run on three hits and two walks. He struck out three. Parker yielded three earned runs in the first two innings on two hits and five walks with two strikeouts. Bartow utilized three other pitchers to close out the victory — Landon Farmer (2BF, 2BB), Grayson Isham (1.1 IP, 1ER, 1H, 1BB, 2K), and Kasey Jacobs (0.1 IP, 2BB). Dustin Wallin tossed a four-inning, no-hitter on Monday as Bartow County blanked Hart County, 16-0. Wallin walked three and recorded five strikeouts, facing only 13 batters. Bartow outhit Hart 9-0. After Hart County won an elimination game on Tuesday to earn a rematch with Bartow on Wednesday, the locals completed their run to the state title with a 13-2 victory. Jacobs and Isham combined on the mound to limit Hart County to two runs on four hits and eight walks in six innings. Jacobs fanned three as Bartow outhit the visitors 12-4. In the four games of the state tournament, Isham and Wallin paced the Bartow County offense with six hits. Isham had five doubles and one triple with seven RBI. Wallin homered and doubled. He drove in nine runs. Robinson totaled five hits in the tournament with six RBI. David Vigil followed with four hits including a double and one RBI. Farmer collected three hits and three RBI. Parker (double, three RBI), Bryant (RBI), and Jarrett Jackson (four RBI) produced two hits in the tournament. Wyatt Garlin (double, three RBI), Cole (three RBI), Dudley (two RBI), and Jacobs (two RBI) added one hit each. Editor’s note: Game data provided by Bartow County Little League.

July 10, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Chad Branton of Cartersville shot 75 on Wednesday to move into the top 20 at the midway point of the 2024 R&A British Senior Amateur Championship. Combined with his opening round of 76 on Tuesday, Branton is tied for 19th place and trails tournament leader, George Wilson of England, by nine shots. The tournament is being held on the Saunton-East and Saunton-West courses in Saunton, England. Through 36 holes, Wilson (even par, 71-71) leads fellow countryman David Mulholland by one shot. Bob Royak (Alpharetta, GA), Chris Dinsdale (Wales), and Paul Moultrie (England) share third place at 2-over-par. Competitors played one round on each Saunton course during the first 36 holes of the Championship. The 168-player field was cut to the low 50 players and ties following 36 holes. 53 players advanced with scores of 13 over par and better. Branton, 55, is one of twenty Americans to make the first cut. The field will be trimmed to the low 40 players and ties following Thursday's round. The final 36 holes of the Championship will be conducted on the 6,700-yard, par-71 Saunton-East Course.

July 9, 2024 Cartersville’s R.B. Clyburn carded rounds of 65-67 — 132 (10-under-par) on Monday and Tuesday to win the Georgia PGA Section 2024 West Pines Classic in Douglasville. During Monday's round, Clyburn recorded one eagle, five birdies, and one bogey at the 6,673-yard, par-71 West Pines Golf Club. On Tuesday, he made five birdies with just one bogey to win by a single shot over another amateur, Rahul Rajendran, of Alpharetta. Todd Ormsby was the low professional with an 8-under-par total. BRANTON 4TH IN CANADA; COMPETING IN THE BRITISH SENIOR AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP At the 2024 Senior Friendship Cup on June 25-27, Cartersville’s Chad Branton fired rounds of 76-73-72 — 221 (5-over-par) to place fourth behind winner Neal Barfield (Dallas, TX) who finished 69-73-70 (4-under) to win by three strokes. Bryan Hancock (Hoschton, GA) was runner-up at 1-under par. Michael Arason (Auburn, AL) finished third at 3-under-par. The 54-hole tournament was contested over the 6,700-yard, par-72 Ussher’s Creek Course in Niagra Falls, Ontario, Canada. Branton competes this week at the R&A’s Senior Amateur Championship in Saunton, England. The 55-year-old opened the Championship with a 5-over-par 76 on the 6,759-yard, par-71 East Course. He is tied for 28th place following the first round. He moves to the Saunton-West Course on Wednesday. The 168-player field will be cut to the low 50 and ties following 36 holes. The field will be narrowed to the low 40 scores and ties after 54 holes. Todd White (Spartanburg, SC) leads the British Senior Amateur following an opening round 68. He is followed by Bob Royak (Alpharetta, GA) with a 70. Four players — Brent Patterson (New Zealand), George Wilson (England), Chris Dinsdale (Wales), and Miles McConnell (Canada) — shot 71 in the first round.