For North Atlanta golfer Kendall Lawson and the Dubs girls gold team, the recent regional tournament was a thriller. Held on April 19 held at Crystal Falls Country Club in Dawsonville, the Dub girls battled for a top placement in a field of 12 regional foes. In close contention for first place the entire tournament, the youthful golfer’s heroics on the 18th hole earned her the tournament title and helped to help send the Dubs off to sectionals with a chance to qualify for the state tournament.

Lawson finished her outstanding performance with a tournament low score of 85. She tied with one other golfer for this title after one of the most intense tournament finishes that the lady Dubs have seen in recent history. During the last few holes, Lawson was in a nail-biter with two other golfers. Going into the 18th hole, Lawson was tied with one of the golfers, and the other was ahead of her by just a stroke. It was anybody’s tournament, but for Lawson, the pressure was unphasing. “I didn’t know the exact standings, but what I did know was that it was very, very close. I didn’t really think too much about the pressure, I just knew in the back of my mind that I was going to perform on this last hole. I was locked in,” Lawson said. 

Sure enough, Lawson birdied on the 18th hole, catching the first place golfer for the title and continuing a miraculous recent streak of Dub golf greatness. For the warriors, 18th hole heroics seem to be becoming a regular phenomenon! Just the day before, North Atlanta’s own Russell Makepeace golfed his way into school history by winning the regional tournament for the boys team with an 18th hole eagle. “It was an outstanding week for Dub golf. I was very proud of what the boys team accomplished, and then you add the girls’ showing to that and it became just that much more special. It really was a team effort and victory,” Makepeace humbly said. “But – hey – you gotta admit, Kendall and I had some pretty spectacular 18th hole performances!”

While Lawson’s heroics were critical to the overall Dub girls regional tournament performance, Ella Partlowe and Kristin Dickerson also had outstanding tournaments, and shot only a few strokes behind Lawson. Their combined effort led the girls team to a placement of 3rd out of 12 teams in the region, meaning that the Dubs advance to sectionals, which will be held May 1st and 2nd. “We are thrilled to be able to compete at sectionals because now we have a chance to qualify for the state tournament. If we place in the top three, we get to go to Jekyll Island,” Lawson said. 

Truly embodying Dub spirit, we can hardly wait for Kendall and the girls golf warriors to compete at the highest level representing North Atlanta. As for Lawson individually, she hopes to play golf at the collegiate level and is looking forward to attending Duke and Wake Forest golf camps over the summer. Go Dubs and go Kendalll!