The Spain Park High School boys’ golf team won its third consecutive Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 6A championship May 11 on the River Course at Robert Trent Jones’ Golf Trail at Hampton Cove in Huntsville.

Spain Park edged second-place Hoover by 16 strokes after finishing with a two-day team total of 7-under par 569. Three Jaguars posted tournament totals below par to help lead Spain Park to the championship.

Spain Park junior Michael Johnson shot a 4-under par 68 in the final round, on the heels of a 5-under par 67 in the opening round May 10, to win his first Class 6A individual championship.

Johnson birdied the final hole to seal the championship by one stroke over Vestavia Hills’ Smylie Kaufman. Johnson, who birdied three of the final four holes in the final round, said he didn’t feel any added pressure on the back nine in the second round.

“There really wasn’t that much pressure,” Johnson said. “All I wanted to do was make sure our team won. The individual (championship) was kind of extra.”

Teammate and defending Class 6A individual champion Robby Prater carded a two-day total of 3-under par 141 to finish fifth overall. Senior Conner Pratt finished with a pair of rounds of 71 to come in sixth overall with a 2-under par 142.

Dino Schroder finished with a 7-over par 151 and Clark Johnson shot a two-day total of 10-over par 154.

The Jaguars, who shot a team total of 1-under par 287 in the first round, shot a 6-under par 282 in the final round to seal the championship.

Michael Johnson carded six birdies and only one bogey in his 67 the first round. He posted seven birdies in his second round.

Pratt shot a 1-under par 71 and Prater completed his opening round round with an even-par 72 for the Jaguars.

Clark Johnson and Schroder finished with a 5-over par 77 each.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” said Michael Johnson, who has been a part of all three Class 6A championship teams at Spain Park. “Every year has been a different story.”

Briarwood boys finish fourth in Class 5A tournament

All five Briarwood Christian School boys’ golfers improved their scores to help the Lions finish fourth overall in the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 5A state tournament with a 48-over par 624 on the River Course at Robert Trent Jones’ Golf Trail at Hampton Cove.

Conner Smith carded an even-par 72 in the final round and led the Lions with a two-day total of 5-over par 149, which placed him fourth overall in individual standings. Matthew Belling finished with a 6-over par 150 in the two-day tournament and placed fifth, while Trevor Hightower had a 9-over par 153 and finished tied for ninth overall.

Matthew Belling and Hightower each shot a 2-over par 74 in the final round.

Michael Belling and John Hayden each shot an 83 in the final round. Briarwood shot a 303 in the second round after firing a 321 in the opening round.

Matthew Belling led the Lions with a 4-over par 76 on the first day of the tournament.

Smith led Briarwood with four birdies as he fired a 5-over par 77 in the first round. Hightower carded a 7-over par 79 and Michael Belling shot an 89 on the first day of the tournament.

Chelsea’s Tyler Shope, playing as an individual, shot a 12-over par 84 on the final day to finish with a 19-over par 163. Shope carded a 7-over par 79 on the first day of the tournament.

Defending champion Spain Park struggles in Class 6A girls’ tournament

Defending Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 6A girls’ golf champion Spain Park struggled in Huntsville without 2009 individual medalist and University of Alabama women’s golf signee Hannah Collier, who didn’t play in the state tournament due to a suspension.

The Jaguars finished fifth in the Class 6A girls’ standings with a team total of 528 on the Highlands Course at Robert Trent Jones’ Golf Trail at Hampton Cove in Huntsville.

Spain Park golfers each improved their scores in the second round. Lakin Eddy carded a 10-over par 82 to lead Spain Park in the second round. Caroline Gurley shot a 13-over par 85. Morgan Natale had an 86 and Ashley Gillespie finished with a 93.

Gurley led the Jaguars with a two-day total of 26-over par 170 and finished 15th overall in individual standings. Eddy shot a two-day total of 31-over par 175.

Gurley led the Jaguars with a 13-over par 85 on the first day as Spain Park carded a team total of 275, which put the Jags fifth out of six teams after the first round of the tournament.

Eddy fired a 93 in the opening round. Natale and Gillespie shot a 97 each Monday.