Piper Heady Punches Ticket to State

The White County Middle School girls golf team saw its season come to an end at the TMSGA Sectionals, but not before one Lady Warrior punched her ticket to the state tournament with a standout round.

Piper Heady will continue her season at the TMSGA State Championship on Tuesday, May 19 after turning in one of the top performances of the sectional tournament. Heady finished with an even-par 72, tying for the best score posted at the event.

The WCMS standout stayed within striking distance through the front nine before catching fire on the back side of the course. Heady played the final nine holes at 4-under par to climb into a share of first place and secure her spot at state.

Ava Elrod also delivered a strong round for White County. Elrod shot a 9-over-par 81, which was the third-best score recorded during the tournament. However, because of a three-way tie atop the leaderboard and the way placements were calculated, she was officially listed in fifth place.

While White County produced scores that would have stacked up well against much of the field statewide, the Lady Warriors were unable to advance as a team under the sectional format, which only allows the top team from each sectional to move on.

“We are in a difficult sectional,” White County head coach Farrah Griffith said. “Our scores today as a team will likely be some of the best posted by week’s end.”

Even with the team season ending, White County will still have representation at the state tournament thanks to Heady’s sectional performance and late-round surge that turned a solid day into a championship-caliber finish.