Packer Invitational golf tournament always draws the best

Published 6:13 pm Wednesday, March 21, 2018

MOULTRIE – The Colquitt County Packer Invitational golf tournament began in 1995, and the aim of coach Donald Dale at that time was to get a premiere event going annually in the state. To be premiere, a tournament needs to get the best … or as much of the best high school players and teams as possible.

In preparing for the 2018 Packer Invitational, Dale spoke about how hard it has been for even the host Packers – who should know the ins and outs of the 18 holes at Sunset Country Club better than anyone (and they do) – to win this thing. And he is correct, for Colquitt County High – with its own strong tradition in golf – won just four out of the previous 23 tournaments.

Then again, that number, four, is the all-time record, even considering that the last time a Packer team took first place was in 2014. In second place is a perennial golf power from Columbus High with three team wins (the latest in 2013). There are three two-time winners: Tift County (the first two 95-96), Glynn Academy and Savannah Christian (pulling a back-to-back in 2004-05).

The last three Packer Invitational champions claimed this prize for the first time, including 2017 champion Woodward Academy.

Then there are the low medalists, of which there are five who call Colquitt County High their alma mater. Two other Packers came up on the short end of playoffs. The last low medalist was Eli Stripling on that 2014 team as he shot a round of 70. The others are John Fordham (2010), Aaron Elrod (2007), Andy Blanton (1997) and Jack Croyle (1996).

That’s the history. The present will be no different on Saturday, again at Sunset Country Club, for a field of 27 teams that includes Woodward, two defending GHSA state champions and Colquitt County’s Region 1-7A rivals.

“The expectations are to win,” said Packer boys coach Lee Wright, who has his fair share of time playing the Sunset course, especially during his high school days under Dale. “So far, we have shown we have the potential. It’s all about putting four scores together at the same time, which is something we haven’t done yet. We will know (the course) better than anyone, and I think we can (win) if we eliminate mistakes and avoid the big numbers.”

Each team can play as many as five golfers. For Colquitt that’s going to be Tanner Brown, Peyton Clark, Lance Blanchett, JW Griffin and Patrick Holman.

They are taking on the following schools:

Blessed Trinity, Brookwood High School (Snellville), Brookwood School (Thomasville), Camden County (1-7A), Carrollton, Columbus High (2017 4A champion with three of the top four individual scores), Harris County, Harrison (2016 Packer champion), Hillgrove, Lee County, Lowndes (1-7A), Milton, North Cobb, North Oconee, Northside-Columbus, Oconee County, Pierce County (2017 2A champion), Smiths Station (Alabama), Thomas County-Central, Tift County (1-7A), Valdosta, Ware County, West Forsyth (2015 Packer champion) and Woodward (300 in last year’s event with low medalist George Stradtman’s round of 70).

Wright said Colquitt County should be able to compete well here, noting that they’ve already played in three other strong events this season. He said the Packers saw Pierce County along the way and held their own.

“I’m excited about where we’re going,” said Wright on seeing the team scores get lower each time, all below 310. At the top of the lineup is Brown, a sophomore who carded a 74 in last year’s Invitational to lead the Packers.

“He continues to get better,” said Wright. When Brown scored a 79 in the first event of 2018, Wright said the player vowed to get his average closer to par. His 72 at the Viking Invitational last weekend at Valdosta’s Kinderlou was a step in that direction.

Brown also played in Sunset head pro Bob Windom’s group at the Pot ‘O’ Gold Pro-Am the weekend before the Viking Invite. What Wright said he heard from Windom was that Brown showed a lot of resilience after struggling at the start and working his way back to par.

Clark, a senior, is signed to play golf at Brewton-Parker College. That will be after he and the Packers make a bid to win the GHSA 7A championship in May, and that will take place at Sunset Country Club.

Dale said putting on a tournament like the Packer Invitational and gaining a good reputation opened the way for Colquitt County to host state, and 2018 will not be the first time.

“Historically, (the Packer Invitational’s) been a good tournament for a number of years,” said Dale. “It started out with eight to 10 teams, then it grew to 32. We brought it down to 27 this year.”

“Every year it’s stacked,” said Wright. “I always felt more relaxed when I played (at home). I know where I can and can’t hit it. I can read the greens.”

So the Packers will see if that “home-course advantage” will work both in March and May. It’s also a lot of work keeping up with scorecards and determining winners, but this is a place that’s happy to do it.

“(Sunset’s) been a great host,” said Dale. “We feed the kids lunch, let them do a practice round on Friday.

“And it’s highly competitive. A lot of good teams come. Coaches with good teams want to play in good fields. It’s one of the better one-day tournaments in the state. We’ve had a lot of great players, some who went on to Division I schools somewhere.

“It’s all about the kids.”