MOULTRIE — Yes, they were playing at Sunset Country Club and, as Colquitt County golf coach Donald Dale is fond of saying, golf is the sport where the home course advantage is a real one.

But there was some pressure on the Packers at Monday’s Region 1-AAAAA golf tournament.

Especially after the team had won four tournaments during its regular season.

“The kids knew they had to play well and finish first or second to go to state, no matter how well they had played the rest of the season,” Dale said.

The Packers shook off the pressure and shot a 291 to win the region championship by 10 strokes over defending champion Tift County on a near-perfect day for golf.

It was the second region championship in three years for the Packers, who were second with a 316 at Douglas Country Club last year.

Tift County won the region last year with a 308.

Colquitt also won the title in 2004 at Valdosta Country Club with a 311.

The Packers took the region title the last time it was played at Sunset as well, back in 2000.

Colquitt got a 35-36 for a 71 from junior Aaron Elrod; a 35-37 for a 72 from senior Matt Smith; a 35-38 for a 73 from the Packers other senior, Josh Dale; and a 39-36 for a 75 from freshman Clarke Hendrick.

The Packers also got an 80 from Dusty Campbell and an 86 from Ian Hester.

“Our guys really played well today,” Donald Dale said. “I’m really proud of them.”

Colquitt County and Tift County will represent Region 1-AAAAA at the 36-hole Class AAAAA golf tournament to be held on Monday, May 8, at the Pine Lakes Golf Course at Jekyll Island.

Elrod’s 1-under par round — his best round in tournament play this season — made him just the second low medalist.

Jason Bennett, playing No. 3 for Valdosta, had a 39 on the front nine, but blistered the back nine with a 29 to finish with a 4-under par 68.

Smith shot the third-best round in his fourth and final region tournament. The 72 was his best score in the four region tournaments he has played in.

Dale’s 73 was the best of his four region tournament rounds as well.

The tournament championship was the fifth of the season for the Packers, who also won the Trojan Invitational at Grand Island Club in Albany with a 289; the Knuck McCrary Packer Invitational at Sunset with a 294; the Indian Invitational at Vidalia with another 294; and the Blue Devil Invitational at Spring Hill in Tifton with a 304.

The Packers highest score this season was a 317 shot at the cold and windy Demon Invitational at Landings Golf Course in Warner Robins back on March 25.

Colquitt County’s average score in nine tournaments this season is 300.4

Tift County also had four scores in the 70s, but as happened so often this season, the Blue Devils could not catch the Packers.

Chesley Gunn and Evan Hanna each shot 73 for the Blue Devils.

Gunn, who has been a tournament low medalist four times this season and is heading off to play for the nationally ranked Darton College team next year, had a 35 on the front nine and a 38 on the back. Hanna shot a 37-36.

Also for the Blue Devils, Jordan Hall had a 38-38 for a 76 and Steven Pritchett shot a 38-41 for a 79.

The Blue Devils’ non-counting scores were an 80 posted by Taylor Cooksey and an 85 from Craig Jones.

Tift County coach Rusty Smith said the result was about what he expected. He said he knew the consistent play of Colquitt County’s top four players was going to be tough to beat.

“We get consistent play from our top three,” Smith said. “But a 301? We’ll take that any day. I’m proud of our kids.

“And I’m proud of Donald’s kids. They are all a class act.”

Despite Bennett’s 68, Valdosta was was third with a 312, 11 shots back of Tift County.

The Wildcats had just one other score below 80, a 78 by Ben Cowart.

Valdosta also had an 80 by Ryan Johnson and an 86 by Ben House.

Coffee and Lowndes each shot a 325.

The Trojans were led by Chase Grantham and Jordan Rowland, each of whom shot a 79.

Coffee also got an 82 from Shawn Bolton and an 85 from Blake Moore.

Lowndes got a 2-over par 74 from Trey McQuaig and a 79 from Tyler Hogan.

The Vikings other two scores were an 85 from John Hamel and an 87 from Tyler Holmes.

Houston County was sixth wit ha 330. The Bears counted a 86 from Alex Lanier, a 78 from Chris Edenfield, an 82 from Mike Rogan and an 84 from Corey Delfs.