4B • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017
gwinnettdailypost.com
SUPER SIX GOLF GIRLS Jenny Bae School: Collins Hill Class: Sophomore Noteworthy: • No. 57 in the U.S. in the AJGA Polo rankings • No. 67 in the lasted Junior Golf Scoreboard national rankings • Currently ranked No. 82 in the nation by Golfweek • Selected as a Roles Junior All-American • Win the 2016 Rome Junior Classic (Georgia PGA Junior Tour event) • Runner-up at the AJGA’s Judie Oppenheimer Memorial Junior in Hilton Head, S.C., last summer • Shot 71 to finish as low medalist at the 2016 Gwinnett Open at Chateau Elan • Already qualified for the 2017 USGA Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship • Voted Region 7-AAAAAA Player of the Year in 2016 • Named first-team All-County by the Daily Post last year • Shot 77 to finish in fourth place individually at the Class AAAAAA state tournament last year • Owns Collins Hill school record for lowest nine-hole (34) and 18-hole (71) scores • Ranked No. 57 in the AJGA Polo national rankings • Already verbally committed to play college golf at Georgia Favorite PGA Tour pro: Jordan Spieth Favorite LPGA Tour pro: Lydia Ko Nickname: Bunny Favorite movie: “Moana” Best player in Gwinnett Co. that’s not me: Elisa Yang Coach Bryan Parker’s take: “Jenny is the ultimate competitor on the course and a great student in the classroom. Jenny is never afraid of a challenge and will always give 100 percent when she steps on to the golf course. She has a very bright future ahead of her and with her tremendous work ethic, the sky is the limit.” Emma Bell School: Mill Creek Class: Junior Noteworthy: • Named second-team All-Region 7-AAAAAA by the region’s coaches as a freshman in 2015 • Has had six top-10 finishes on the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour each of the last two years • Had three top-five finishes on the Hurricane Junior Tour last summer • Named first-team All-County by the Daily Post in 2016 • Is a Super Six selection by the Daily Post for the second straight season • Already verbally committed to play college golf at Georgia Southern Favorite LPGA Tour pro: Lexi Thompson Nickname: Spitfire Best player in Gwinnett Co. that’s not me: Louise Yu Favorite movie: “Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius” Twitter handle: @embells_ Coach Jeremy York’s take: “Emma is an ultimate competitor and abso-
lutely hates to lose and not achieve her own or the team’s best. She is extremely talented and has some natural ability to play golf at a very high level. We are looking forward to see Emma mature and grow this year not only as a golfer, but as a young lady.” Leiko Niwano School: Duluth Class: Junior Noteworthy: • Named second-team All-County by the Daily Post as a sophomore last year • Shot 75 to finish tied for third at the Region 7-AAAAAA tournament last spring • 2014 Atlanta Junior Golf grand champion • Runner-up at 2015 AJGA Davis Love III Open • Eighth at the 2016 AJGA Davis Love III Open • Third at the 2016 Bears Best Shootout (Hurricane Junior Golf Tour event) • No. 430 in the latest AJGA Polo national rankings • No. 530 in the latest Golfweek national rankings • Ranked No. 491 in the current Junior Golf Scoreboard national rankings Favorite LPGA Tour pro: Lydia Ko Nickname: N/A Best player in Gwinnett Co. that’s not me: Jenny Bae Favorite movie: “The Iron Giant” Coach Donna Wright’s take: “Leiko has a strong sense of focus. Her ability to play well under pressure is her strong suit.” Alexis Taylor School: South Gwinnett Class: Junior Noteworthy: • Named second-team All-County by the Daily Post as a freshman in 2015 • Shot 79 to win the Region 8-AAAAAA championship in 2015 • Shot 77 at the Region 8-AAAAAA tournament last year to finish as runnerup and qualify individually for state sectionals Favorite LPGA Tour pro: Lydia Ko Nickname: Lexie Favorite movie: “Mean Girls” Coach Lisa Brooks’ take: “Alexis is a great young talent with tons of potential and a great desire to be the best.” Elisa Yang School: Wesleyan Class: Senior Noteworthy: • Was the Daily Post’s 2016 Girls Player of the Year • Named first-team All-County by the Daily Post in 2014 and 2015 • Named preseason Super Six by the Daily Post for the third straight season • Shot a 1-over par 73 at Forest Hills Golf
she’s kind of ready to be not (just) that name under has earned her a scholar(other golfers).” ship to play college golf in True, as good as Yu has the Southeastern Conferbeen throughout her high ence at Vanderbilt, though school career, it’s always none of her success has seemed like she’s been come without a lot of hard just behind a really big work. name on Gwinnett’s high “I think playing a lot school girls golf scene — individually and involvfirst, Bailey Tardy, who ing herself and getting that was named Daily Post extra help with a separate Girls Player of the Year coach, … in a golf-friendly all four years of her high state like Georgia is huge,” school career at GAC and Peachtree Ridge girls Norcross from 2012-15, coach Meredith White and last year’s Player of said. “So, I think she’s put the Year, Elisa Yang of in the time and effort and Wesleyan.
a boys team, but the idea of family and I think that’s been really huge. Not just for what both teams have been able to do on the court, but just from the environment you saw when we went to Shiloh and we as boys coaches went all the way out to Newton after our practice to watch them play Friday. That’s just that family atmosphere that we have here at Duluth.” They’ll each hit the road again in the second round, with the Duluth girls (17-12) traveling to Westlake today at 6 p.m. The boys (19-10) will play at Pebblebrook on Thursday at 7 p.m. The girls (17-12) closed the regular season with three-straight wins, including an upset of region champs Collins Hill, before falling to Mill Creek in overtime of the Region 6-AAAAAAA tournament. Miami signee Endia Banks has led the way with 17.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Forward Brianna
huge. So I think she’s put in the time and effort and she’s kind of ready to ready to be not (just) that name under (other golfers)”
Louise Yu School: Peachtree Ridge Class: Senior Noteworthy: • Named first-team All-County by the Daily Post as a junior last season • Named second-team All-County by the Daily Post as a sophomore in 2015 • Named first-team All-Region 7-AAAAAA by the region’s coaches the past two seasons • Georgia State Golf Association’s Girls Player of the Year for 2016 • GSGA’s Women’s Match-Play champion • Has seven wins on the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour • Signed to play college golf at Vanderbilt • Ranked No. 197 in the AJGA Polo Junior national rankings • Currently No. 125 in the Golfweek national rankings • No. 295 in the current Junior Golf Scoreboard national rankings Favorite LPGA Tour pro: Michelle Wie Best player in Gwinnett Co. that’s not me: Elisa Yang Favorite movie: “Hidden Figures” Coach Meredith White’s take: “I think playing a lot individually and involving herself and getting that extra help with a separate coach, … in a golf-friendly state like Georgia is
Peter Chung School: Mill Ceeek Class: Senior Noteworthy: • Shot a school-record round of 65 at the Apple Mountain Tournament last season • Named first-team All-Region 7-AAAAAA the last three seasons • Named first-team Class AAAAAA All-State the last two seasons • Named first-team All-County by the Daily Post the last two seasons • Won the U.S. Junior Amateur local qualifier by shooting 3-under par over two days at the University of Georgia course in Athens • Ranked No. 120 in the nation and No. 6 in Georgia by Junior Golf Scoreboard • No. 596 in the AJGA Polo junior national rankings • Ranked No. 609 nationally by Golfweek • Has been offered a scholarship to play college golf at Georgia State Favorite PGA Tour pro: Dustin Johnson Nickname: Haircut Best player in Gwinnett Co. that’s not me: Alex Markham Favorite movie: “Deadpool” Twitter handle: @chungpeter18 Coach Jeremy York’s take: “Peter is the most gifted and talented kid that
BOYS Jacob Bayer School: Collins Hill Class: Senior Noteworthy: • First-team All-County selection by the Daily Post as a junior in 2016 • First-team All-County selection by the Daily Post as a freshman in 2014 • Shot 73 to tie for seventh at the Class AAAAAA state tournament as a junior last year • Won the 2016 Berkeley Hills Invitational Georgia PGA Tour event with 36-hole total of 10-under par 134 • Won 2016 PDQ/Philadelphia tournament on the AJGA Tour * Runner-up in the 2016 AJGA Rome Junior Classic • Ranked No. 210 nationally by Golfweek • No. 92 in the Junior Golf Scoreboard national rankings and No. 4 in Georgia • No. 84 in the current AJGA Polo national junior rankings • Signed to play college golf at Georgia Southern Favorite PGA Tour pro: Greg Norman Nickname: Jake Best player in Gwinnett Co. that’s not me: Peter Chung Favorite movie: “Talladega Nights” Twitter handle: @Jacob_Bayer07 Coach Bob Warman’s take: “I guess the best thing I can think of about Jacob right now is he can be as good as he wants to be. There is no limit. It’s all up to him.”
I have ever been around and can hit some shots that I have not ever seen any other kid pull off. His maturity and growth as a young man has been fun to watch over the last few years and will continue to grow moving into college. We all look forward to seeing his accomplishments this year.” Conner Conkel School: GAC Class: Senior Noteworthy: • Second-team All-County selection by the Daily Post as a junior a year ago • Shot 70 to place fifth individually in the Region 6-AA tournament last season • Was No. 3 scorer on the Spartans’ championship team at last year’s Class AA state tournament • Top-five finishes in six of his 10 Hurricane Junior Golf Tour events in 2016, including runner-up at 54-Hole Challenge at Greystone • Signed to play college golf at USC Upstate • Favorite PGATour pro: Stewart Cink • Nickname: Conkshell • Best player in Gwinnett Co. that’s not me: Bruce Davis Smith • Favorite movie: “Jason Bourne” Twitter handle: @ConnerJConkel • Coach Gary Richey’s take: “Conner has been a mainstay for Spartan Golf since his freshman year. But last year, he really broke out and helped lead our team to our first boys state championship. This season, he has taken much more of a leadership role both verbally and by his actions. I’m so excited to see what Conner can do in his senior season.” Luka Karaulic School: Mill Creek Class: Junior Noteworthy: • Named preseason Super Six by the Daily Post for the second straight season • Named first team All-County by the Daily Post the last two seasons • First-team All-Region 7-AAAAAA the past two years • Named first-team AllState in Class AAAAAA as a junior last year • Ranked No. 51 nationally and No. 3 in Georgia by Junior Golf Scoreboard • Ranked No. 92 nationally in AJGA Polo junior rankings • No. 236 in Golfweek’s national rankings Nickname: The Big Easy Favorite PGATour pro: Ernie Els Best player in Gwinnett Co. that’s not me: Peter Chung Favorite movie: “The Other Guys” Coach Jeremy York’s take: “Luka is diligent and a perfectionist when it comes to golf and loves the challenge of getting better. I am looking for Luka to have a major breakout season this year and put up some of the best numbers Mill Creek has ever had.” Alex Markham School: Mill Creek
Class: Senior Noteworthy: • Preseason Super Six selection by the Daily Post the last two seasons * Named first-team AllCounty by the Daily Post as a junior last year • Named second-team All-County by the Daily Post as a freshman in 2014 • Had four top-three individual finishes in high school tournaments as a sophomore, including tying for low medalist at the Big Red Shootout • Named All-Region 7-AAAAAA and Class AAAAAA All-State last season • Currently No. 671 in the AJGA Polo junior rankings • Ranked No. 639 nationally and No. 30 in Georgia by Golfweek • Ranked 10th in Georgia and 131 nationally by Junior Golf Scoreboard • Signed to play college golf at Samford Favorite PGA/LPGA Tour pro: Justin Thomas Nickname: Magic Markham Best player in Gwinnett Co. that’s not me: Luka Karaulic Favorite movie: “Creed” Twitter handle: @alex_markham1 Coach Jeremy York’s take: “Alex is without a doubt one of the best kids in our school and without a doubt the leader and captain of Mill Creek Golf Program. At all times he gives the best he has and always put the program first. His desire to get better is second to none and will achieve any goal that he sets out to achieve. He is the heart and soul of our program. Samford University is lucky to get a very high character kid and an extremely talented player.”
Bruce Davis Smith School: GAC Class: Senior Noteworthy: • Fully recovered from a hip injury that limited his junior season last year • Shot 8-under par 136 to win Southern Junior Golf Tour event at Forest Hills last summer • Placed third and was first alternate at the USGA Junior-Amateur local qualifier last summer • Second-team All-County selection by the Daily Post in 2015 • Shot 69 to tie teammate Steffen Smith for the Class AA individual state championship in his freshman season • No. 493 in the latest AJGA Polo Junior national rankings • Ranked No. 584 nationally by Junior Golf Scoreboard PGA Tour pro: Roberto Castro Nickname: Hands Best player in Gwinnett Co. that’s not me: Conner Conkel Favorite movie: “Talladega Nights” Twitter handle: @bruce_smith1234 Coach Gary Richey’s take: “Unfortunately, Davis was hampered by a hip injury last year. However, he has worked his way back to form with a lot of hard work and perseverance. Since Davis was in junior high, I have seen his skills and intelligence on the golf course grow. I’m so proud of his effort to get to this level of golf and I’m excited to watch him excel this season.”
Yu
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Club in Augusta to win the Class AA individual state championship and helped the Wolves to a runner-up team finish last year • Individual runner-up at Class AA state tournament as a freshman, and led the Wolves to a team runner-up finish • Named Class AA All-State by the GHSA the last three seasons • Shot 69 to finish as low medalist and help Wesleyan to a runner-up team finish at the Class AA state tournament last year • Posted six top 10 finishes last summer, including the title at the North Junior Championship • Has broken seven of eight Wesleyan school records for nine- and 18-hole rounds. Currently holds total of 14 school records • Currently No. 59 in the AJGA Polo junior national rankings • Ranked No. 50 nationally by Golfweek • No. 45 in the current Junior Golf Scoreboard rankings • Signed to play college golf at Georgia, making her Wesleyan’s first college scholarship player Favorite LPGA Tour pro: Lexi Thompson Nickname: N/A Best player in Gwinnett Co. that’s not me: Louise Yu Favorite movie: “Shawshank Redemption” Twitter handle: @eh_lee_sah Coach Leslie Grogan’s take: “Elisa continues to crush the record books at Wesleyan shooting a 67 at the Regional Tournament and 69 to win the State Championship. She set a goal to win an AJGA tournament last summer and won two. Being goal oriented with an awesome work ethic has allowed her to achieve at this level, but her humble personality, encouraging nature, and sincere concern for others that makes her the ultimate teammate. She is a great role model for all of the young golfers.”
However, Yu has now joined Yang among the upper echelon of the county’s growing girls junior golf talent pool, though her focus for the next few months will be trying to help Peachtree Ridge’s team success take a similar rising track that her individual results have. “I really want to win Region (6-AAAAAAA this season) because we’ve been second to Mill Creek (in 7-AAAAAA) three years in a row,” Yu said. “So, it would be awesome to win region, not only
individually, but as a team. I’m friends with just about every (high school golfer) in the county, so it’s not really a competition. Of course I want to do well in state because I haven’t done well at state.” White admits that Yu’s presence, along with that of fellow senior Esther Park, has certainly made life a lot easier in her first season as the Lions’ head coach. “She and Esther both. It’s nice to have senior leadership,” White said. “They know what they’re
Duluth
Duluth’s Endia Banks (4) goes up with a shot as Mill Creek defenders Wynter Webb (23) and Alex Bolling (32) look on during a regular season game. (Photo: Craig Cappy)
Dixon has come on strong as of late, and junior Victoria Oglesby’s outside range has opened up the offense. Duluth lost to the Rams by seven points in the regular season and felt confident ahead of Friday’s playoff game. Banks led the way with 20 points. “We just felt we had a good chance to go in and
get a win,” Tate said. “We didn’t actually see it as an upset. We actually saw it as not necessarily being given our due and we knew that we could go out and compete with any team. It was just about us going out and playing up to our abilities and making sure that we executed offensive and defensively to put ourselves in the best positions to win the game.” Huff also felt good about his team’s chances ahead of its first-round win at Shiloh. He said he had seen his team grow throughout the year as it played a schedule littered with state tournament teams in addition to an extremely competitive region. “We just had a great week of preparation,” he said. “The guys really bought into the game plan and we really just defended. We worked the game plan to perfection and we just defended and did what we came to do on Saturday at Shiloh.” Adam Flagler, who hit six 3-pointers against Shiloh, leads the team with an aver-
age of 16.1 points per game. William Huzzie is averaging 12.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Huff said that senior Jalen Hodges has led the way on the floor with 9.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game as well as with his leadership. Huff also credited senior Alexander D’Souza for his leadership. He knows his team will have its hands full with a loaded Pebblebrook squad that includes Alabama signee Collin Sexton and Xavier signee Elias Harden. “The challenge is they’re a great team,” Huff said. “They’ve got a lot of players who can make plays. We’ve got to go on the road and try to win again. So we’ve definitely got to bring our A-game, that’s going to be a challenge, to go into a team who has again played some of the top competition — not just here in Georgia, but across the United States — and to go into their house and win it’s going to be a challenge. But it’s something we can do.”
doing. They’re familiar with their region. They have a strong opinion in, ‘OK, we want to play these people,’ and, ‘I want to get better.’ They’ve got a goal in mind, and that, I think, is motivating for underclassmen … instead of starting from scratch.” Perhaps the most amazing thing about Yu is that she’s starting from scratch, relatively speaking, in terms of her golfing development. That means the ceiling for her game is still a very high one as she finishes
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her high school career, heads to college and increases her tournament schedule. “I got a new coach a couple of months ago, and so I changed my swing completely,” Yu said. “I was swinging wrong before, but now I’m swinging right. I got fitted for new clubs, and I think my long game has improved the most. … After I got fitted, … I think it’s good because I’m going to college soon, and I’ll feel more comfortable.”
Grayson
turnover-to-assist ratio. Nick Edwards added 14 Eagles down and to not points in the playoff win let them control the game and has been a consistent offensively. second option for the “They were outGrayson offense. Pierce rebounding us pretty bad also praised the efforts of in the first quarter, and big-men Kenyon Jackson, DeAli (Thompson) and Gerald Buncum and Rowe Aaron Rowe, they started this season. doing a good job on the Grayson will need a glass and that opened full-team effort in the secthings up for our bigs to ond round against Region finally get in the groove 4-AAAAAAA champion of things,” he said. “They Etowah. The Eagles dewere kind of shuffled at feated Campbell 70-62 in first, they had us spread the first round. Pierce said out offensively.” the key will be controlling Collins Hill nearly the pace of the game. erased a 13-point deficit, “Getting stops and getbut Grayson came up with ting out in transition,” he one final stop on the final said of what his team does possession of the game to when it plays its best. “I advance. think we’re pretty good Leading scorer Travis in transition offensively. Anderson led the Rams Guys get to making the offensively with 18 points extra pass for layups or in the win. He was second wide-open threes. But it in Gwinnett during the all starts on the defensive regular season with an end for us. Not necessariaverage of 21 points per ly turning a team over, but game. Pierce said the key getting stops. Whether it to the junior’s success has be on a rebound, turnover been being efficient with — just getting the ball his shot selection and his back and pushing it.”