POINT CLEAR, Alabama — The Fairhope Pirates stayed out front of a serious Yellow Jacket attack on the Azalea 18 at Lakewood Monday to defend their 6A Section 1 title with a five-stroke win (300-305) over McGill-Toolen Catholic.

Third-place Satsuma (318) and fourth-place Alma Bryant (338) also advanced to the sub-state round at Moore’s Mill Golf Club in Auburn on May 7. The top four individuals, including Daphne’s Zac Ames and Baker’s Eric Brennen —both of whom shot a 76— and the McGill-Toolen pair of Brent Wright (78) and Allan Cameron (79) made the sub-state cut as unattached players.

Alex Green of Fairhope led all with his even-par 72 for the best boys round of the day. Teammates Holden Walker (75), Trent Baggerly (76), Nick Patrick (77) and Gaines Bates will make the trip to sub-state with Green on Monday.

Fairhope coach Jeff Hauge was excited about the back-to-back repeat of section crowns.

“This makes two in a row for us. Anytime you win on your home course, you have to feel pretty good because you feel like you’re expected to. But when it’s a section against so many good teams, it’s really good to win it,” he said. “We held off some very good, quality opponents. Teams like McGill and Satsuma and others. And I’m proud of the guys for hanging tough and staying focused. The Azalea course is an extremely challenging course. I’m proud of the whole team, but when your top four score in the seventies, you give yourself a pretty good chance. And Walter, Trent, Nick Patrick and Alex all did a great job. And, of course, Alex came through and having the low score on your card is a big plus. It’s also good to get the second-straight section win. These guys work hard and take a lot of pride in how they play, especially here at Lakewood. So I couldn’t be more proud. But we’ll get back to work and get ready to see what we can do up there.”

Fairhope girls finish second in section: In the girls 6A Section 1 match, the Lady Pirates qualified for sub-state with a second place finish behind Alma Bryant’s Lady Hurricanes, who brought in the best team round of 239.

Runner-up Fairhope was eight-swings back at 247, but Point Clear’s Virginia Green recorded the only sub-par round of the day—male or female—with a one-under 71 to lead the Lady Pirates and the field for the medal. Her teammates, Anna Grace Claunch shot an 83, Jasmine Wallace a 93 and Sidney White a 94.

Daphne’s team of Hayley Clark, Morgan Cannon and Brittany Smith came in at 314 total for fourth and a team ticket to sub-state while McGill-Toolen was third at 274. Individual qualifiers included Fairhope’s Alex Gressett (95), Bryant’s Macy Mareno (102), Robertsdale’s Jewels Ontiveros (105) and Cayla Van Alstine (115) of Enterprise.

The 6A Sub-State round for Section 1 and 2 girls will also be at Moore’s Mill Golf Club in Auburn on May 7.