The Lakeside Vikings won their first county golf title since 2007 and second overall with a thrilling 327-328 win over the 14-time reigning Dunwoody Wildcats. (Photo by Mark Brock)
A one stroke (327-328) victory by the Lakeside Vikings ended a 14-year streak at the top of the boy’s standings by the Dunwoody Wildcats in the 2024 DeKalb County Boys’ Golf Championships on Wednesday.
It is Lakeside’s second boys’ county golf title in the 26 years a county championship has been played in boys’ golf. Lakeside’s last win was a 337-355 win over Dunwoody in 2007. Lakeside had finished runner-up to Dunwoody 12 times over the past 14 seasons.
Lakeside junior Andy Moelich captured the low medalist honors in exciting fashion following a two-hole playoff with Chamblee junior Dylan Lawson. Moelich (38-37) shot one stroke better on the back nine than Lawson (37-38) as the pair tied with three-over par 75s to force the playoff for medalist honors.
The playoff started on the challenging 18th hole at Sugar Creek, a par-five hole rated at a three-handicap, which is dogleg left with a creek running across the fairway just past the 150 mark and as the fairway makes the dogleg. Both golfers reached the green in regulation facing birdie putts.
Lawson was out on the hole and his birdie putt came up just a bit short. Moelich was putting up hill and his ball rolled to the cup and lipped out. Both tapped in for a par to send the playoff to the No. 1 hole to continue the playoff.
Both players were just off the green after their second shots on the par-four hole. Moelich hit a nice chip over the ridge that rolled to within about three feet of the hole. Lawson putted from the front edge and his ball hit a rough spot and slowed down leaving a long putt for par.
Lawson had his line down on his put, but the ball slowed down and rolled just to the right of the whole. Moelich sank his par put to clinch the win.
Dunwoody was looking solid as golfers completed their rounds with three Wildcats in the top six finishers. Senior Jackson Madden finished with a 78 (39-39) to finish third while Reece Thompson compiled an 81 (42-39) and junior Harrison Carter was in a tie for eighth with an 83 (40-43).
Lakeside then finished strong with three players notching 84s on the day including senior Miles Steed (44-40), sophomore Matthew Krick (41-43) and senior Aidan Tuttle (39-45) to seal the win.
Lakeside junior Andy Moelich captured the 2024 low medalist honors in the DCSD Boys’ County Golf Championship with an exciting two-hole playoff win against Chamblee’s Dylan Lawson. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Dunwoody senior and defending county champion Bradley Stone finished with an 86 (44-42) to round out the team scoring for the Wildcats.
Chamblee which finished in a tie for third with Druid Hills had junior David Naveda shoot a 79 (39-40) to go with Lawson’s 75 as the Bulldogs shot a 349 (75-79-94=101). Sophomore Mason Weiss finished with a 94 (49-45) and freshman Cameron Teh completed the scoring with a 101 (54-47).
Druid Hills also shot a team score of 349 (81-84-89-95) led by sophomore Jake Verlander who compiled an 81 (42-39) and edged out Dunwoody’s Thompson on a card playoff. Junior Eli Sitz was tied in 10th with the Lakeside trio at 84 (44-40) while junior Mason Horner 89 (46-43) tied for 18th and junior Jason Worrell was 22nd with a 95 (46-49).
Southwest DeKalb had a pair of golfers in the Top 10 as three qualified for the back nine, one short of qualifying for the team title. Senior Michael Wilson put together an 82 (41-41) for seventh overall and senior Ethan Quitman added an 83 (43-40). Senior William Johnson was 14th overall with his 85 (48-37) as he tied Moelich was the low score on the back nine with a 37.
Lakeside coach Hamilton Sims picked up the victory in his first season after replacing longtime coach Robert Bokelman. Dunwoody fell short of its 21st overall title in the 28 years the tournament has been held (1986-95, 2005-2007, 2009-2019, 2021-23). The Wildcats had won or shared (2014 with Arabia Mountain) the past 14 seasons.
See link below for full tournament results: