The Toombs County High School golf teams looked to defend their title last week as they faced Vidalia High School in the 3rd Annual Toombs/Vidalia Ryder Cup, a two-day match play event featuring a scramble format on day one and individual match play on day two. Each match carried a single point toward the overall team total.
Day one, hosted by Vidalia at Swainsboro Country Club, saw a tightly contested start between the two programs. The Bulldogs earned victories from seniors Noah Anken and Rhys Ward with a 3&2 win, and Gavin Ward and Clark Brannen, who delivered a dominant 7&6 victory. In another close match, Drew Woodruff and Vick Moore battled to the final hole, where Woodruff rolled in a birdie to secure a halve and split the point.
On the girls’ side, both matches were competitive, though the Bulldogs came up just short. Seniors Jean Peterson and Sarah Ellis Walker faced a tough matchup, while Anni Thursby and Anzley Bryant battled throughout before finishing one down.
After day one, the overall score stood tied at 2.5–2.5, setting the stage for a decisive second day.
Toombs County hosted the individual portion on Tuesday at Brazell’s Creek Golf Course in Reidsville, where players competed head-to-head in traditional match play. The Bulldogs turned in a strong showing, earning points from Vick Moore (8&7), Drew Woodruff (3&2), Gavin Ward (6&5), Sarah Ellis Walker (3&1), and Anni Thursby (1 up).
Despite those efforts, Vidalia claimed points in the remaining matches, as Anzley Bryant, Jean Peterson, Clark Brannen, Rhys Ward, and Noah Anken fell short in their head-to-head contests. At the end of regulation play, the two teams remained deadlocked at 7.5–7.5 after 36 holes, forcing a playoff to determine the winner.
In the playoff, each team selected two players to compete using a combined gross score, beginning on hole No. 9. The Bulldogs sent out Noah Anken and Vick Moore to face Vidalia’s Tucker Reynolds and Austin Mosley. Both teams carded 1-over par, extending the playoff to a second hole.
The match moved to hole No. 8, where Vidalia edged the Bulldogs by a single stroke in a high-pressure finish, narrowly denying Toombs County a chance to repeat as champions.
*left to right: Anzley Bryant, Anni Thursby, Jean Peterson, Sarah Ellis Walker
