MOBILE, Alabama — Bayside Academy’s girls golf team won the 1A-5A Section 1 tournament at Azalea City Tuesday and advanced to the Sub-State level with 40 strokes to spare over runner-up Elmore County 247-287.

Faith Academy (295) was third and Alabama Christian (301) fourth to qualify for the sub-state tournament Monday at Arrowhead Country Club in Montgomery.

Lady Admiral senior and twice-defending state individual champion Caroline Beebe won the medalist honor on the third hole of a head-to-head playoff by defeating freshman Hannah Sager of Alabama Christian who left a five-foot putt on the lip of the No. 11 cup. Fellow BA senior Danielle diPretoro had an 83, junior Haileigh Hughes an 86 and freshman Rebecca Todd a 98 in the Lady Admiral’s team victory.

Individuals qualifying for substate include 2012 Baldwin County champion Elaine Wood of Spanish Fort who shot an 82 as well as Brooke Samsom of St. James and Mariah Stewart of UMS-Wright who each shot a 92.

As large as the margin of victory was as a team, individually, it was as narrow as it gets. Beebe struggled on the front nine and trailed by six strokes at No. 12, but came back to force the 78-78 tie with a string of birdies and a Bubba-Watson-style rescue shot from the trees on 18.

The South Alabama signee said the playoff was a great way to cap off her last high-school round of golf in the Mobile-Baldwin area and playing against a competitive eighth-grader reminded her of herself.

“Wow. That was exciting,” she said. “Got me going. She’s a very good player and I thought she had me on 10 (Playoff). But I fought hard, and, I don’t give up. Seems like every year, I get into one of these. But being my senior year, I really wanted to go off with a win. But the main thing is how well we played as a team today. I’m really proud of the girls. It was tough conditions out there today with he wind and the heat. They’ve all been working hard. I know my co-senior, Danielle, really stepped up this year and that helps us all be more confident as a team. Now we’re going go up there next week with even more of that confidence and try to come out with another win and maybe get a shot at state.”

Beebe won her first state title as an eighth grader, sat out one year as a transfer, was a runner-up and last year was co-champion.

“She (Sager) did kind of remind me of me,” she added. “She just stayed in there. Didn’t get too up or down. Just hit the ball so well. She’s hungry. She’s a competitor. Maybe we’ll have another playoff at sub-state.”

Bayside Academy coach Tom Johnson said it was good just to qualify but also to win in both a big way team-wise by a large spread and dramatically with an individual playoff for an extra boost.

“It’s always good to go up to the next round with a victory,” he said. “That, and Caroline being her competitive self made it exciting. And her being a senior, too. You know that was just two good golfers playing their best. It was fun. It’s a good send-off. But I’m really excited about our other girls playing so well. I think this is a better score than our section score last year. So, we have improved over not only the season but since the last year. And that speaks to the work ethic as well as the maturity that comes with working together as a team toward a goal. Same four girls were in the finals last year, so we’re looking to get back. And if they can keep it going and all go a little lower, and I believe they can, we have a chance. Danielle has gotten much stronger and been a factor out there for us. She and Caroline have been good senior leaders. Haileigh will be the one with the most experience next year and Rebecca will be back and we have some younger ones to be on varsity. So the future looks good as well.”

St. Paul’s wins 5A boys section: On the boys side, St. Paul’s won the 5A sectional title at Azalea City on Tuesday. St. Paul’s (301) defeated Spanish Fort (331) and Faith Academy (344). All three teams advanced to the sub-state tournament Monday which is also at Arrowhead in Montgomery. Robby Shelton went four-under par with a 68 to medal. It was the Saint Paul ace’s ninth consecutive competitive round at or below par.

Spanish Fort Toros making the sub-state grade include Nic Williamson (76), Austin Depperschmidt (81), Taylor Sieg (84) and Matthew Dance (91).

Bayside boys win section meet: The Bayside Academy boys team had to travel to Lagoon Park in Montgomery Monday where they won the Class 3A Sectional golf tournament with a 310 total. Montgomery Academy finished second at 313. William Sellers of Montgomery Academy shot a 72 for the best round. John Solberg led the Admirals with a 74.