The Colquitt County girls golf team includes, from left, Elizabeth Funderburk, Allison Fagan, coach Matt Key, Alexis Griner and Shelby Tidwell.

MOULTRIE – The Colquitt County girls golf team won its third tournament in a row and defended its championship of the Maple Ridge Junior Girls Classic on Saturday, firing a season-best 225.

The Lady Packers, who will compete in the Region 1-AAAAAA tournament on Monday at Valdosta Country Club, won by two strokes over Auburn (Ala.) High in the 14-team tournament held at Maple Ridge Golf Club in Columbus.

Mill Creek High School, a team the Lady Packers could meet in the Class AAAAAA state tournament next month, was third with a 233.

The Lady Packers got a 72 from freshman Alexis Griner, a 75 from freshman Elizabeth Funderburk and a 78 from sophomore Shelby Tidwell.

Allison Fagan shot an 83.

“That’s four of the best scores we’ve had since I’ve been the coach,” Lady Packers coach Matt Key said. “Those are just amazing scores. And three of those girls had never seen the course before.

“This is one of the best tournaments we go to and the girls really enjoy it. I’m just so proud of them I don’t know what to say.”

When the Lady Packers won the event last year, they shot a 245.

“I knew these girls had the ability to shoot this kind of score,” Key said, adding that the team has improved its mental approach.

“All year long, we have been talking about not compounding mistakes by making another one. And they are getting better at it.”

The Lady Packers string of tournament championships began back on March 21 when they won the West Hall Invitational at Chateau Elan in Braselton. On April 4, they won the Lady Packer Invitational at Sunset Country Club.

And now they Lady Packers will try to carry their fine play over to the region tournament on a Valdosta Country Club course that is similar to Maple Ridge’s, Key said.

Colquitt County and Tift County are expected to battle for the region title.

“This has already been a great season,” Key said. “We’ve won three tournaments in a row, we had great scores today, but nothing would please me more than to beat Tift County on Monday.”