JACKSON - This was the kind of team performance Randy Bensley had been waiting for - the type of play he knew his kids were capable of.
The Pillow Academy golf team won the North AAA Tournament here Wednesday in dramatic fashion at Deerfield Country Club, capturing the championship on the first sudden-death playoff hole.
"I don't know the exact history, but I believe this is the first time Pillow has won this tournament in almost 30 years," said Bensley, the PA coach. "I couldn't be more proud of this group of kids. They worked hard this week getting ready, and they showed up and played like they wanted to win."
Pillow and Heritage finished tied for first place at 328. All six players from each team played stroke play, with the four lowest scores counting.
Pillow played the first playoff hole at even par, which was good enough for the victory.
PA was led in victory by Lou Adams, who fired his best round of the season with a 79 that tied him for the medalist honor with Caleb Westmoreland of Heritage Academy.
Adams drained a 20-foot putt on the final hole in regulation to tie Heritage and used that momentum in his playoff with Westmoreland to become the the tournament's medalist.
Adams sank an 8-foot putt for eagle on the first playoff hole against Westmoreland.
"I don't know that I have ever seen two better shots when Lou hit driver, 3-iron to about eight feet on the first playoff hole," Bensley said. "Lou really came through for this team today."
Anthony Ola II also played well, finishing with an 81 that tied him for third place in the seven-team tourney.
Pillow's other individual scores were: Jackson Pannell (84), Tyler Fondren (84), Mary Langdon Gallagher (86), and Thomas Gallagher (90).
Pillow will play in the State AAA Tournament next Wednesday at Jackson Country Club.
Starkville Academy (332) and Magnolia Heights (339) also advance to state as the third- and fourth-place teams from the North.
