Maroon Tide wins all over the place

 MARION –– Galax’s golf team went two different directions last week, but wound up at the same place – on top.

Splitting up for a pair of events on the same day, Galax won the 11-team Bank of Marion Classic at Holston Hills, while the B-team claimed a three-way match at Great Oaks C.C. in Floyd.

Tyler Rutherford led Grayson County to a third-place showing in the team standings by winning the individual championship, edging Galax’s John Bryant by two strokes to come in as low individual with a 71.

The Maroon Tide coasted to the team title with a four-man total of 313, a full 31 shots ahead of runner-up Holston. Grayson County was five shots behind the Cavaliers with a 349 and Chilhowie placed fourth at 356.

Northwood (374), PH-Glade Spring (397), George Wythe (400), John Battle (403), Rural Retreat (404), Fort Chiswell (417) and Marion B (432) rounded out the field.

Galax was led by Bryant’s 73 and a 75 from Brock Cox. Matt Downey carded a 79 and Dustin Thompson finished at 86.

In Floyd, the Maroon Tide’s Jonathan Alouf, Eddie Hanks, Ben Hill and Travis Cockerham combined for a 329, holding off host Floyd County (336) and Pulaski County (346).

Chase Dunnigan got little help with his low score of 72 for the third-place Cougars. Hanks led Galax with a 75. Alouf followed at 81, Hill turned in an 85 and Cockerham shot 88.