By Mike Szvetitz
Sports Editor, Opelika-Auburn News
Published: May 5, 2008

Eighteen holes.

One day.

One chance.

That’s all the eight teams from the Class 6A South Region get when both the boys and girls Sub-State tournaments tee off today at the Auburn University Club.

The top three boys and girls teams after today’s tournament will qualify for the state event next Monday and Tuesday at The Shoals — a Robert Trent Jones course in Muscle Shoals. The top three individual golfers from each division not on a qualifying team will also advance to the state championships.

For the Auburn High boys, today’s round is just another step in the quest for their fifth consecutive state title. The Tigers won the Section 2 tournament last week at Moore’s Mill Golf Club by 15 strokes, and, according to head coach Duke Smith, are starting to hit their stride.

But, it’s just not enough to be the four-time defending state champ.

No one wins on reputation alone.

“This is the next big tournament for us,” Smith said. “We’ve talked all year, that the first thing we’ve got to accomplish is to get to the state tournament. And that’s starts (today).

“This is just the next step to qualify to get to Muscle Shoals to try and win five straight. But you can’t win it if you don’t get there.”

Auburn will compete against seven of the best teams south Alabama has to offer – Baker, Enterprise, Fairhope, Foley, McGill-Toolen, Opelika and Smiths Station.

Fairhope, which won its Section championship, boasts the defending individual state champ from last year, Michael Ulmer.

Ulmer came out of nowhere to beat Auburn’s Scott Strohmeyer in last year’s event.

Strohmeyer, who has already signed to play golf at Alabama, will lead the Tigers today. Playing in the No. 2 spot is senior Johnny Mann. He is followed by junior Alex Barnes, sophomore Gabriel Lang and sophomore Carl Langlois, who qualified for the sub-states as an individual with an 80, but was put on the team by Smith for the state championship run.

“We’re not overconfident,” Smith said. “This will be a very strong tournament. There are some good teams in there with us. Opelika’s got a good team. They didn’t play that well last week, but still made it. I know they’re looking forward to playing well this week.

“With one day, anyone can have a good day, and anyone can have a bad day. We just got to stay consistent and try to avoid making big numbers.”

Opelika is led by Section 2 individual champ Daniel Glidewell. Joining him on the Bulldogs’ roster are James Sarquiz, Jacob Tickal, Alex Roberts and Ryan Yacko.

On the girls side, Auburn High also comes in riding high after a Section 2 championship.

Leading the way for the Tigers is Jennifer Commander, who’s 78 at the Section tournament was good enough for low-medalist honors.

Playing with Commander will be Coleman Humphrey, Jessica Rouillard and Kendal Trupp. Also for the Tigers, there will be two golfers playing as individuals – Mia Lee and Mallory Good.

Competing against Auburn today will be Alma Bryant, Central-Phenix City, Daphne, McGill-Toolen, Oak Mountain, Prattville and Spain Park.
Central boasts the defending state champion Haley Wilson.

Today’s tournaments begin at 8 a.m., with the girls teeing off on No. 1 and the boys starting on No. 1. Out of the five boys’ golfers for each team, only the top four scores will be counted. In the girls’ division, the top three out of four scores will go toward the team score.

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