At the AHSAA Golf Championship, West Point's Sutter Brothers Shine Despite Stormy Skies

With an incredible 8-under 64, which is the kind of score that exudes domination without having to be explicitly stated, Bailey Sutter recorded the day's best round. Rawlin, his younger brother, was not far behind, shooting a cool 3-under 69. Following the weather-shortened first day, West Point High's 5-over-par team score of 293 was anchored by their combined performance, placing them first in the Class 5A boys' division.

The Sutters completed their rounds before the storms arrived, which was an accomplishment in and of itself on a day when the clouds appeared to have their own plans, even though stormy skies forced play to stop in some classes. Several teams will return to the course early Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. to finish their first rounds due to the disruptions. Depending on the weather, Round 2 is scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m.

In an attempt to quicken the pace, tournament officials modified Monday's play to accommodate competitors riding golf carts due to the impending weather. Tuesday will be the same if the predictions come true, with carts and the identical clusters as in Round 1.

The 36-hole competition is still planned, but according to AHSAA rules, all competitors in a classification must finish at least nine holes in order for a state champion to be declared.

Team standings following the first round (where finished):

Class 5A Boys: 306 Guntersville, 307 Andalusia, 340 West Point, 293 Bayside Academy

Boys in Class 3A: Lee-Scott-306

Whitesburg Christian: 311

Class 4A Boys: 300 Haleyville

Jackson: 307

Girls in Class 7A: Gryphon 224

Auburn: 226

233 Hewitt-Trussville

235 at UMS-Wright

Girls in Class 1A/3A: Wicksburg, 250 Alabama Christian: 281

Highlights of each individual in Round 1:

Bailey Sutter (West Point): Class 5A, 8-under 64

West Point's Rawlin Sutter: 3-under 69, Class 5A

Klare Jamison (Grissom): 5-under 67, low round for girls in Class 7A

Class 1A/3A girls, 4-under 68, Julie Waldo (Alabama Christian)

Frances Brown (UMS-Wright): Class 7A, even-par 72

Provision Christian Kamdyn Kelley: 1-under 71, Class 1A/3A females

Cooper Garris (Jackson): Class 4A, 1-under 71

American Christian Andrew Turner: Class 4A, even-par 72

Jackson McIntyre (Montgomery Academy) and Boone Thigpen (Rogers): 4-over 76-Class 3A

There was a lot of uncertainty—and opportunity—hanging in the humid Birmingham air as a result of the weather, which prevented some players from finishing their rounds.

The Ridge and Valley courses in Oxmoor Valley, where the championships are being played, proved to be just as difficult as the weather. The Sutters played like seasoned pros, grounded, focused, and unfazed despite wind, rain, and a start-stop rhythm that would have rattled most high school players.

All eyes will be on West Point's brotherly squad and the teams trying to finish strong as the final round approaches. The golf game must continue rain or shine.