For North Atlanta golfer Russell Makepeace, the most historic golf round in school history started out in a routine way. The senior golfer was playing in the recent regional tournament on April 18 held at Crystal Falls Country Club in Dawsonville. His first nine in an 18-hole round started off with some pars with a mix of birdies and a bogey or two.

But it was on the back nine that Makepeace got hot. By the time the afternoon was finished, the Dub linksman had golfed his way into school history by being named the regional tournament winner. It was the first time a North Atlanta golfer earned the tournament trophy. Makepeace, a lifelong golfer and one of the team captains, said the winning of the individual trophy was the biggest sporting event of his life. “I’ll remember the moment until I’m old, I know,” he said. “And it was so great to share the event with my coach and my teammates.”

For the senior golfer it was a magical hole 18 that set up the greatest golfing moment of his life. The odds were not in his favor. On hole 15, Makepeace was three over par. He had to make up some significant ground, and a little bit of luck helped him do just that. “Here I am on hole 18. On my drive, my ball goes through some trees but miraculously doesn’t hit anything,” Makepeace said. “I get on the green, a mere 60 feet from the hole, but I’m on the upper tier of the green looking at a three-foot slope. Then, I nail the putt – the ball hits the flag and drops straight into the hole.”  

Makepeace had eagled the hole to score a 72 (even par) for the day, placing him in a five-way tie for first. But Makepeace wasn’t done yet. A five-way tie for first place meant a five-man playoff for the tournament title! About an hour after his miraculous 18th hole performance, Russell defeated his opponents (including members of a 5 time & reigning state championship team) on the second hole of the playoff with a birdie. “We were ecstatic and we’re jumping up and down. The first thing Russ did was go over to Sarden and give him a big high five. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Sarden that happy about anything. It was truly amazing,” said junior golfer Preston Dewberry. 

As the outright winner at the tournament, Makepeace earned a chance to compete at the state playoffs as an individual. The North Atlanta boys golf team had a strong showing during the tournament coming in fifth place out of 15 teams. While the team did not have a chance to advance to the state tournament – only the top four teams advanced – Makepeace will get to make the trip down to Jekyll Island on May 15 and 16. Truly embodying Dub spirit, we can hardly wait for Russell to compete at the highest level representing North Atlanta. Go Dubs and go Russell!