Huntley goes out a winner at A.C. Flora in AAA state championship

A.C. Flora boys golf coach Harry Huntley emailed some current and former players and program supporters Monday night after his team shot a 305 and trailed Wren by three shots after the first round of the S.C. Boys Class AAA State High School Golf Championship.

The theme of the email? “Once again we were behind after the first day, which seems to be the habit,” Huntley said.

The general theme of the responses? “It’s also the habit that they’ll come back,” Huntley said.

Was there ever a doubt?

The Falcons shot a 2-under-par 286 as a team Tuesday at the General Hackler Course at Coastal Carolina to win their sixth consecutive AAA state title by six shots over runner-up Wren, coming from behind in the final round for the fifth consecutive year.

“I was really impressed with the quality of play all day long,” Huntley said. “They were steady, they never got in trouble. To play the way they did today, this is absolutely the best tournament round we’ve played as a team, and I’ve had some great teams.”

Huntley is retiring after 16 seasons and 10 state championships, and said none of his teams ever posted an under-par round in a state tournament.

“Everybody on this team only knows winning a state championship,” Huntley said. “It’s been a great run.”

Team members received rings for the first four titles and a commemorative watch last year. Another watch is likely this year.

“This is the best out of all four, just the best golf we’ve played, the best state championship ever,” said senior Michael Beal, who shot a 2-over 74 Tuesday after being 3 over through two holes.

Huntley’s son, senior Jennings Huntley, shot a 4-under 68 for the best round of his high school career. The round included an eagle, four birdies and two bogeys. Sophomore Ryan Marter shot a 71 and junior Dwight Cauthen contributed a 73.

“We really pulled it together and finished strongly,” Jennings Huntley said. “I’m glad to go out with a bang.”

Robert Dargan, the reigning state mid-amateur champion who coached the A.C. Flora girls team for the first time this season, is succeeding Huntley.

A.C. Flora was the only team that posted a better round in the tournament than Lower State champion Myrtle Beach, which closed with a season-best 1-over 289 Tuesday to move into third place, 12 shots behind the winners.

The Seahawks improved upon their opening-round score by 25 shots. Their best individual score Monday was a 77, and they were forced to throw out a 74 as their worst score Tuesday.

“[Monday] was a tough day. I think that’s really where we lost it,” said Michael Leftis, Myrtle Beach’s lone senior who said he felt he let his teammates down with an 83 Monday. “If we played somewhere up to our potential yesterday we could have given it a better shot today, especially with the round we put together.

“… It’s golf. It’s a funny game, you know. Maybe we were a little hyped up and psyched ourselves out, but I think it was just one of those days and that’s the way it goes.”

Myrtle Beach eighth-grader Holden Grigg shot a 71 Tuesday, while junior John David Gooden carded a 72, Leftis and junior Ethan Hood carded 73s, and junior Kohler Karavan posted a 74.

“That’s all we wanted all year was 290,” Myrtle Beach coach Steve Perry said. “That was the goal since Day 1 and they beat it by one. That’s all you can ask for as a coach, to get the kids’ best on the last day.”

Gilbert junior Caleb Proveaux won the individual title with a birdie on the first playoff hole over Emerald senior Coleman Self after both players shot a 4-under 140.

In the playoff on the par-3 10th, Proveaux hit an 8-iron from 147 yards into a mild breeze to 1 foot for the clinching birdie, while Self barely missed a 20-foot birdie putt down a ridge. “That was a good way to do it. End it quick,” Proveaux said.

Proveaux began the final round three strokes behind Self and birdied five holes in a bogey-free 67, including the 18th with a 20-foot putt to force the playoff.

“Hats off to him, he had a heck of a back nine – 4 under – and he birdied 18 and the first playoff hole,” said Self, who shot a pair of 70s. “I played good, too, just not good enough.”

The is the fifth year Proveaux has competed in the AAA or AAAA state final, and his previous best finish was third as an eighth-grader.

He won the Bobby Chapman Junior Invitational last year with rounds of 72 and 65, making up 10 shots in the final round, and has qualified for the U.S. Junior three times, advancing to match play twice.

Proveaux, whose brother Cody is a rising senior on the Clemson golf team, has committed to South Carolina, while Self will be joining the Clemson team in the fall. The swing instructor for the Proveaux brothers is their father, Charles, and Caleb wanted to remain closer to home.

Gooden recorded the best individual finish among players at Grand Strand schools, tying for 13th at 7-over 149. Hood and Karsten Kenley of St. James tied for 16th at 150.

St. James finished eighth as a team at 626 and North Myrtle Beach tied for ninth at 634.

This story was originally published May 19, 2015 at 9:08 PM with the headline "Huntley goes out a winner at A.C. Flora in AAA state championship."