The Oconee Leader

For hundreds of photos and updates about Oconee events and people, go to theoconeeleader. com

This Week: Calendar Pirate Week: 10 a.m.

Thursday, Friday, Oconee Public Library, 1080 Experiment Station Road, Watkinsville. Join us for pirate-themed activities all week long as we celebrate Pirate Week. Come do the Pirate Scavenger Hunt, join us for special piratethemed storytimes on Tuesday and Wednesday, and make daily Pirate Crafts all week long in the Children’s department. We will be dressed like pirates every day. Be sure to pop in Friday at 4 p.m, when we will watch the movie “Muppet Treasure Island.” Free. For more information, please call (706) 769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/ oconee.

TOPS weight loss: 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Government Annex Building, Highway 15, Watkinsville. Meetings are held each Thursday.

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is a nonprofit support group for weight loss. Members can share challenges, successes, or goals, hear a brief program and discuss plans for the week.

(800) 932-8677 or www. tops.org.

Library Card Scavenger Hunt: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Monday, Wednesday, Bogart Library, 200 South Burson Avenue, Bogart. It’s Library Card Sign-Up Month. Celebrate your library card with a family fun library scavenger hunt at the Bogart Library. Drop by during library hours, pick up a form and win a free prize for participating.

Learn more about your library, too, Affinis Hospice Grief Support Group: 1:30. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, Affinis Hospice, 1612 Mars Hill Road, Watkinsville. Affinis Hospice offers a grief support group on the fourth Friday of every month.

You can contact Alex Stevens, Chaplain, or Rebekah Goodson, Social Worker. Free.

(706) 705-6000, oconee. chamberofcommerce. me/Calendar/moreinfo. php?eventid=213720 Oconee Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oconee County Courthouse, 23 N. Main Street, Watkinsville. The market is open rain-or-shine on Saturdays through the last Saturday in November.

Located in front of the courthouse in downtown Watkinsville.

Rays Church Pork BBQ: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, Rays United Methodist Church, 1521 Rays Church Road, Bishop. Rays United Methodist Church will host a pork BBQ fundraiser on Saturday. Dine in or take out. Donations only. Please call (706) 769-9658 or email rayschurch@att.net for additional information.

Alanon: 7 to 8 p.m.

Sunday, Watkinsville 1st Methodist Church, 1331 New High Shoals Road,

Issue 38

Volume 11

From the Oconee to the Apalachee

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Rubber stamps? No, say candidates Lee Shearer

TheOconeeLeader.com

Three candidates for an Oconee County Commission post fielded questions from a crowd of more than 100 people Thursday night, and the questions were as reveal-

ing as the answers.

A number of those questions laid out big issues the commission will face in coming years.

One questioner asked whether the commissioners would be a “rubber stamp,” going along always with what the commission

chairman wanted.

All three candidates – Marcus Wiedower, Chuck Horton and Ben Bridges – said no.

“In all my years, I’ve been called a lot of things, but rubber stamp is not one of them,” Horton said.

Horton served eight years on the

commission before stepping down to make an unsuccessful run for the county commission chairmanship in 2012, and before his time on the commission he was a member of the county board of education. Bridges

Constitution celebrated in Watkinsville

School growth comes at cost Lee Shearer

Page 3

Contact us:

Twitter @TheOconeeLeader

Page 2

TheOconeeLeader.com

Please see EVENTS

Email editor@theoconeeleader. com

Please see CANDIDATES

Photos by SALLY GUSTAFSON The Reverend John Andrew Chapter celebration of Constitution Week began with a ceremony Sept. 17.

The Chapter’s Junior American Citizens led the program at Watkinsville’s Oconee State Bank on the corner of Main Street and Experiment Station Road.

Oconee County School Superintendent Jason Branch laid out the cold, hard facts of life at a preelection forum.

Oconee County’s public school system is growing fast. The school district is going to have to enlarge some of its schools and add new schools, he said. And there are two ways to pay for that construction – with a 1 percent sales tax over five years, or by borrowing money and paying the bonds off with a property tax levy.

“We have two options, sales tax or property tax,” Branch told a crowd of about 100 people at Oconee Veterans Park on Thursday evening.

On the Nov. 8 ballot, Oconee County voters will also be asked to say yes or no to extending the 1 percent sales tax, the special purpose local option sales tax, another five years. In past votes, the SPLOST has passed with a 70 percent or better yes vote.

School officials aren’t allowed to advocate for passage of the SPLOST, just to explain the facts – but in conservative Oconee County, property taxes are not popular.

When the state issued “financial efficiency” ratings earlier this year, Oconee County was one of the most efficient in the state. The county spends less money per student than most school districts – 151st out of 181, Branch said.

At the same time, the school system consistently ranks at the top when the state releases the results of state-required achievement tests each year.

Branch mentioned only two specific projects the sales tax money would finance – a new elementary school somewhere in the northern part of Oconee County and the addition of 20 classrooms to Oconee County High School.

Enrollment is about 7,500 this year, up 700 students from three years ago, Branch said. By 2020, the school system could add another 1,000 students, he said.

Three schools are over capacity, he said – Rocky Branch Elementary, Malcom Bridge Elementary Please see SCHOOL

Page 2

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Candidates

Photos by WAYNE FORD Lauren Manders sings the National Anthem during a ceremony in Bishop marking the grave of Sydney Johnson III.

Patriotic salute in Bishop Wayne Ford

TheOconeeLeader.com

The Sons of the American Revolution honored one of its own Sunday afternoon in Bishop as a plaque was unveiled at the grave of Albert Sydney Johnson III. The ceremony drew members of the SAR along with members of the Daughters of the American Revolution and other groups formed to preserve the memories of ancestors long gone.

The ceremony was held in the Bishop Cemetery.

Johnson, who died in December 2014, was a man who studied American history, but who also “emphasized family history and how those families fit into the overall place in our national history,” said Paul Maxey, Johnson’s son-in-law who provided background on the former University of Georgia forestry professor who retired after 32 years with UGA. The marker was unveiled by Johnson’s three daughters and representatives of several organizations participated in a graveside salute to the Clarkston native.

A grave-marking ceremony is one of many programs sponsored by SAR

Paul Maxey talks about his father-in-law during the ceremony in Bishop.

and DAR to honor ancestors and past chapter members, according to Don Burdick of the Athens chapter of the SAR. The Athens Chapter along with the Elijah Clarke and the Rev. John Andrews chapters of the DAR sponsored the grave-marking for Johnson.

“The purpose is to remind today’s adults and youth of our patriotic ancestors who had the courage to fight and sacrifice so much to give us our free country and the freedoms we enjoy today,” Burdick told the gather-

ing.

During the event, the Color Guard gave a three-gun salute to Johnson, who was accepted into SAR membership through his ancestor John H. Bryan, who fought in the Revolutionary War. “These gentlemen take this very seriously,” Johnson’s wife, Nedra Johnson, said about the ceremony.

“I have attended these as a DAR member, but being on the receiving end sure made me appreciate the ceremony.

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should get the help he’s asked for.

Horton said government should look at how well it is using resources not only in recreation, but in all departments.

Wiedower said there has to be a balance between the money spent on recreation and the county’s low property tax rates.

“I have a vested interest in finding that balance,” he said.

Another questioner said sales tax money promised to some projects, such as a new animal shelter, was diverted to other uses. All three candidates said they’d make sure special purpose local option sales tax money would be spent as the voters were told it would be spent.

The three are running for the Post 2 seat, vacated when John Daniell stepped down to run unopposed for the county commission chairmanship. The winner will serve the remaining two years of Daniell’s term.

Continued from page 1

and Oconee County High School. By 2020, five of the district’s 10 schools will be over capacity; by 2025, all will be, he said.

The school board is coming to voters for approval a year early. Collection of the new tax would begin in January 2018.

The new five-year tax would have an upper limit of $45 million. If voters say yes, the school district will

borrow about $24.5 million in bonds, then use the SPLOST collections to pay back the bonds.

It would cost about $300,000 to issue the bonds, but the county would likely get a low interest rate.

When the Oconee County government refinanced some bonds recently, it got a new interest rate of close to 2 percent.

Interim Week sends students far and wide Staff Reports

TheOconeeLeader.com

The Sons of American Revolution Color Guard gave a three-gun salute during the ceremony.

Athens Banner-Herald

Continued from page 1

and Wiedower have not held elective office before.

Another questioner wanted to know how the three would resolve the conflicting roles of the elected county commission chair and the county’s “administrative officer” – what might be called county manager in other places.

“I agree two people shouldn’t do the same job,” Horton said.

“We’ve got to figure out a way,” said Bridges.

Wiedower agreed that the roles weren’t clearly enough defined and separated.

Another question was about the county’s recreation department. Rec­ rea­ tion Director John Gen­try has said the department is at a “decision point.” The demands on the department have grown along with the county’s population, but the recreation staff has not, Gentry told commissioners recently. He asked for more employees in this year’s budget, but the commission said no.

Bridges said Gentry

School

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Athens Academy students from the high school spent five days beyond the campus from Sept. 12-16 for a week of excursions known as Interim Week.

The Upper School suspends all typical scholastic and athletic activities to send its students across the region and even as far away as North Carolina.

“Interim Week is a very intentional and deliberate pause in academics to allow children to do things that are of equal importance in their development,” Bob Sears, director of the Upper School, said. “It provides a foundation in the year.”

Each grade undergoes a

different experience during the week: ninth graders form a class identity through group-work activities and a retreat at Athens Y Camp; 10th graders focus on service, leadership, and community, visiting different museums and organizations in Athens and Atlanta; 11th graders tour a variety of colleges and universities across Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina; and 12h graders have the option to visit colleges with their parents or experience a retreat to Camp Mikell for a week of self-reflection.

“It shows that our faculty are committed to the well-being of our students,” Sears said. “It’s an opportunity to educate students in a broader way.”

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENTS TO OCONEE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARDS & COMMITTEES

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners is seeking citizen applicants for appointment to the following advisory committees: • Citizens Advisory Committee On Cultural Affairs & Tourism: One appointment to begin October 1, 2016 for a two-year term that will expire September 30, 2018.

• Keep Oconee County Beautiful Commission: Two appointments to begin immediately for three-year terms that will expire June 30, 2019, and five appointments to begin immediately for unexpired terms; three to expire June 30, 2017 and two to expire June 30, 2018.

• Oconee County Library Advisory Board: Two appointments to begin January 1, 2017 for a 5-year term to expire December 31, 2021.

• Oconee County Industrial Development Authority: Four appointments to begin January 1, 2017 for two-year terms that will expire December 31, 2018.

Interested persons may request applications and additional information regarding these positions from the Board of Commissioners Office, 23 North Main Street, P.O. Box 145, Watkinsville, Georgia 30677, or (706) 769-5120. Applications are also available on the Oconee County website at www.oconeecounty.com. The deadline for applications is noon, Monday, Sept. 26.

Contact us

Thank you for reading The Oconee Leader. If we can be of any assistance, or if you have information you would like to share with the Oconee community, please send information to Wayne Ford at editor@ theoconeeleader or call 706-208-2221.

If you would like to advertise with The Oconee Leader, contact Alicia Goss at (706) 255-6745 or Laura Jackson at (404) 408-9446.

Our website is www.theoconeeleader.com

Mailing address: The Oconee Leader, P.O. Box 912, Athens, Ga., 30603-0912

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS Above, Athens Academy 10th-graders traveled to Atlanta to visit the Carter Center, a nonprofit organization founded by former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn. Below, 11th-graders visited the University of North Carolina campus and its football stadium.

Thursday, September 22, 2016

4-H’ers hold 9/11 ceremony

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO High school 4-H members from Oconee County observed their fifth-annual lighting of luminaries in observance of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The students lined Main Street in Watkinsville with the candle lights and at 9:11 p.m. they observed a moment of silence at the flag pole.

Scholars of merit

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Oconee County High School students Xiaoyao Gao and Sarah Hardell have been named semifinalists in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Competition. Sarah and Xiaoyao will join the final selection process to receive the National Merit Scholarship. These students were selected as semifinalists based on their 2015 PSAT score. There are approximately 16,000 semifinalists nationwide. Xiaoyao is the daughter of Dongying Gao and Yihong Zhou. Sarah is the daughter of Robert and Anne Hardell.

Events Watkinsville. 12-step recovery for people affected by someone’s alcohol use. Meets daily in the area in various locations. http://www.ga-al-anon.org/.

Storytime: 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oconee Public Library, 1080 Experiment Station Road, Watkinsville. Storytime is for preschool children and their caregivers. Come for stories, songs, movement, crafts, and fun. Free and open to the public. For more information, please call (706) 769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/oconee.

Storytime: 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oconee Public Library, 1080 Experiment Station Road, Watkinsville. Storytime is for preschool children and their caregivers. Come for stories, songs, movement, crafts, and fun. Free and open to the public. For more information, please call (706) 769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/oconee.

Storytime: 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oconee Public Library, 1080 Experiment Station Road, Watkinsville. Storytime is for preschool children and their caregivers. Come for stories, songs, movement, crafts, and fun. Free and open to the public. For more information, please call (706) 769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/oconee.

Watercolor Painting, Values and Color, OCAF class: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wednesday, Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation, 34 School Street, Watkinsville.

Explore or expand your knowledge of watercolor applications with Kie Johnson in six five-hour classes in watercolor painting at the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation. Register at www.ocaf.com or call (706) 769-4565. $250 OCAF member, $260 nonmember.

Storytime: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oconee Public Library, 1080 Experiment

Continued from page 1 Station Road, Watkinsville. Storytime is for preschool children and their caregivers. Come for stories, songs, movement, crafts, and fun. Free and open to the public. For more information, please call (706) 769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/oconee.

Chess Club: 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oconee Public Library, 1080 Experiment Station Road, Watkinsville. Interested in chess? Play at the library. All experience levels (including beginners) welcome.

Ages 7 and up. All programs and events are free and open to the public. For more information, please call (706) 769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/oconee., 706-769-3950 Scream Free Parenting Class: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Grace Fellowship Church of God, 1120 Malcom Bridge Rd, Bogart.

Grace Fellowship Church will offer a Scream Free Parenting Class from on Wednesdays beginning Aug.10 until Oct. 26 at 6:30-8 p.m. at Grace Fellowship, 1120 Malcom Bridge Road. The cost is $15 for required workbook and childcare is FREE. Are you a screamer? Or do you employ the “Silent Treatment”?

Are you looking for ways to better connect with your children? Join us for a 12 week study (DVD, discussion, exercises) designed to equip you for your most important job…

PARENTING! Led by Scream Free Parenting Certified Leader, Wendy Fletcher-Clements. To register (required), visit http://graceathens.com/ connect/details/scream-free-parenting/ or for more info. call the church at (706) 769-4001. $15., 706-769-4001, graceathens.com/connect/details/ scream-free-parenting/

Teens, parents invited to screening Athens Academy is inviting the community to a screening of the documentary “Screenagers” at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 27 in the Harrison Center Performance Hall.

A short Q&A session with a panel of educators and mental health professionals will be held afterward. The event is expected to conclude at 8 p.m.

No reservations are needed and anyone with questions can call (706) 549-9225.

“Screenagers” explores the science be-

tween the addictive pull of electronic devices and kids’ developing brains. Touching on worrisome issues including fragile selfesteem, social isolation and even digital addiction, “Screenagers” also examines ways to help young people develop self control and find balance in their digital lives.

Proponents of the movie say it is one that parents should see and discuss with their kids.

The movie has been featured in USA Today, The Dr. Oz Show, and The Today Show.

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Athens Banner-Herald

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For hundreds of photos and updates about Oconee events and people, go to theoconeeleader.com

This Week: NOHS

WARRIORS l TITANS l SPARTANS l WOLVERINES l LIONS

September 22, 2016

Regular season sweep for Oconee against North Oconee The Lady Titans beat St. Pius 9-0 last Tuesday. For photos and the full story, see theoconeeleader.com

Online

Photo gallery

North Oconee vs Clarke Central football

Fambrough’s pitching, two-run Claire Bradford single, helps Lady Warriors get region win against Lady Titans Bradford wins contest at Pinehurst, will compete at Augusta Oconee County picked up its second win of the season against North Oconee with a 3-0 win last Thursday at North Oconee. Chloe Fambrough (pictured on the left) had a hit in the fifth inning to score two runs to break a 0-0 tie. She also threw a one-hitter in the circle. Ansley Hart’s single in the seventh gave the Lady Warriors a 3-0 lead. All three runs by Oconee were unearned. The Lady Warriors went 4-1 in the Veterans Memorial Tournament last Friday and Saturday. For the full story and photos from the Oconee-North Oconee game, see theoconeeleader.com.

Online

MATTHEW CALDWELL/ Oconee Leader

Photo gallery, story

Georgia Tech vs.

Vanderbilt, Clemson football theoconeeleader.com

Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina has hosted the U.S. Open four times, one PGA Championship, one U.S. Women’s Open and the Ryder Cup once, and is one of the most famous in the world.

Earlier this month, Prince Avenue Christian School fourth grader Claire Bradford earned the right to say she is a winner at Pinehurst.

Bradford won her age group in the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship regional qualifier and earned the right to play in the finals in April.

“It was really cool and it was really fun because I was proud of myself. It was the first time I made it that far,” Bradford said. “This is my first year. I wanted to do it because I really like golf. I am happy that I made it.

“I was excited but it’s really cool to win something there because it is a nice golf course and it is the most famous because it’s the hardest. That was really cool.”

Bradford won the event by three points.

“I was pretty shocked because the girls there were really good,” Bradford said. “If you had the most points, they put you in the back of the line so I knew I was in the lead for the first two, but when it came to putting, some Page 6

NOHS JV softball sweeps Oconee in regular season

theoconeeleader.com

Online

TheOconeeLeader.com

Please see ‘Bradford’

Photo gallery, story

Oconee vs.

North Oconee softball

By Matthew Caldwell

North Oconee’s junior varsity softball team defeated Oconee County 1-0 last Thursday at NOHS. It was the second win for the Lady Titans against the Lady Warriors this season.

They also won 4-2 on August 25 at OCHS. Ashley Allen hit a triple and she was knocked in by Katelyn Ashburn for the only run of last week’s game. Pictured are Alana Kilgore (11), Ashburn (15) and Allen (30) moments before taking the lead last week. For more photos of the game, see theoconeeleader.com.

MATTHEW CALDWELL/ Oconee Leader

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Page 5

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Malcom Bridge cross country sweeps meet at Apalachee

Contributed photo

Lady Warriors win at Alcovy

Contributed photo

Malcom Bridge Middle School’s cross country teams swept the Third Annual Apalachee Wildcat Dash last Saturday. The Lady Lightning had five runners finish in the top 12 and won with 33 points. The Lightning had five runners finish in the top 16 and they won with 39 points. Kelsey Morse won the girls’ race, followed by Caroline Duncan in second place. Kenna Kay finished seventh, Brynn Halbach finished 11 and Felicia Pursner finished 12 . Aidan Landrum won the boys’ race.

Maxwell Pearson finished third, Davis Potts finished fourth, Bo Hancock finished 15 and Cody Bray finished 16 .

Oconee County’s competition cheerleading team finished first in last Saturday’s competition at Alcovy High School. Team members are Abreanne Alesi, Erika Burgess, Abigail Cheatham, Amadi Daughrity, Lauren Davis, Sydney Field, Emma Kraby, Pryce Lofton, Emelia Muilenberg, Reagan Murphy, Emalee Nichols, Anna Caroline Paschall, Mary Cain Rue, Molly Grace Stotts and Molly Sullins. The Lady Warriors’ next competition is October 8 at Johns Creek. They compete October 15 at Allatoona and October 29 at Chestatee. Their region competition is November 5 at Putnam County High School.

Clarke Central tops North Oconee

Oconee’s Kreimeyer in first season on Georgia Tech’s cheerleading team

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MATTHEW CALDWELL/Oconee Leader

North Oconee lost 45-21 to Clarke Central last Friday night in Athens to drop to 0-4 overall this season, all non-region games. Turner Daniel had two touchdown passes in the game – a 40-yard pass to Jermaine Browner with 2:53 left in the first quarter that made the score 14-7, and a 9-yard touchdown pass to Mika Fick (pictured) with nine seconds left in the second quarter that made the score 31-14.

Kaleb Sherrer had a 10-yard touchdown pass to Chase Trest with six seconds left in the game. For the full story and a photo gallery from the game, see theoconeeleader.com. The Titans play at Winder-Barrow on Friday to wrap up the nonregion portion of the schedule.

Payne catches first career touchdown in UGA’s win at Missouri Christian Payne caught his first career touchdown pass at the University of Georgia in last Saturday night’s game at the University of Missouri. Payne’s 2-yard touchdown catch gave the Bulldogs a 14-10 lead with 12:48 left in the second quarter. Payne had five catches for 41 yards. Pictured is Payne congratulated by Greg Pyke after scoring. Georgia won 28-27. The Bulldogs play at Ole Miss on Saturday at noon.

Oconee County High School graduate Jordan Kreimeyer is a freshman the Georgia Institute of Technology and is a member of the cheerleading team. She was on the field Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium for Georgia Tech’s 38-7 victory against SEC school Vanderbilt that helped the Yellow Jackets improve to 3-0 overall this season. For photos of Georgia Tech’s win against Vanderbilt and photos from tonight’s game against Clemson, see theoconeeleader.com.

MATTHEW CALDWELL/ Oconee Leader

Tell our advertisers you saw them in The Oconee Leader • Go to theoconeeleader.com for picture galleries

Page 6

Lady Wolverines go 3-2 in Veterans Memorial Tournament

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Warriors improve to 4-0 for second time in three seasons, beat Cedar Shoals

MATTHEW CALDWELL/Oconee Leader

MATTHEW CALDWELL/Oconee Leader

The Prince Avenue Christian softball team improved to 5-2 in Region 8-A with a 9-1 win at Towns County last Thursday. The Lady Wolverines played five games in the Veterans Memorial Tournament and went 3-2 to move to 9-5 overall this season.

They lost 13-1 to Monroe Area last Wednesday at Oconee County High School.

Last Friday, they beat Elbert County 6-5 and Woodward 13-12 at OVP. After losing 4-0 to East Jackson last Saturday at OVP, the Lady Wolverines beat Putnam County 12-3. Pictured is Hays Simmons (14) congratulating Haley Cartey after Cartey scored against Monroe Area. For pictures of that game, see theoconeeleader.com.

Oconee County improved to 4-0 overall this season with a 28-10 victory at Cedar Shoals last Friday night in Athens. It’s the second time in three seasons the Warriors have opened 4-0. They went 7-0 to start the season in 2014, which was head coach Travis Noland’s first year at Oconee County. The Warriors led Cedar Shoals 7-0 at halftime thanks to a first-quarter touchdown pass from Sam Middlebrooks to Roques Dowdy. Cedar Shoals kicked a field goal in the third quarter to cut the lead to 7-3. Champ Bell had a 10-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to take a 14-3 lead. Jared Hood had a 50-yard touchdown run to take a 21-3 lead and Christian Casey added a 21-yard touchdown run late in the game to take a 28-10 lead. The Warriors host Eastside (2-1-1) on Friday night in their final non-region game of the regular season.

‘Bradford’

Continued from page 4

girls made some putts and I didn’t make anything.

I knew I had the highest points for the drive and chip so I was kind of nervous, kind of not.”

The finals for the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship will be played at another world-famous golf course – Augusta National. It will be held April 2, 2017, the Sunday a week before the final round of The Masters.

“A lot of good golfers play there. My great

grandfather used to work the scoreboard for the 15 green. My dad has been there too,” Bradford said. “Golf has run down through our family. It will be really cool to play at The Masters and it is a nice course.”

The putting portion of the finals will be held on the 18 green at Augusta National with the same pin placement as the final round of The Masters.

With several months before the finals now to preth

th

pare, Bradford said she wants to work on each stroke.

“A few days before the Drive, Chip and Putt (at Pinehurst), my drive got a little wacky and for all of my drives. I hit the ground a little bit and they didn’t go as far as I wanted it to,” Bradford said. “I don’t know the speed of the greens yet. I think it’s like Pinehurst but I want to work on putting. For chipping, I want to work on that but for the last one,

it wasn’t hard because we practiced that chip that day.

I want to work on everything.

“I am looking forward to it. I am glad it is further away so I have more time to practice than the last one. It was only two weeks away.”

Bradford, 9, started to play golf when she was 3 by chipping in her yard.

She has played in tournaments since she was 5.

“My dad taught me. He gave me a club and I start-

ed chipping,” Bradford said. “I play a lot of other sports but I like golf the most. I like playing it. A lot of people say it’s not very fun because you just grab a stick and hit a ball, but to me it’s fun because you can see how far you hit it and try to beat your goal every time. It is really fun.”

Bradford said she averages about 180 yards on her drive but her farthest is 200 yards. She works at the sport almost every day. She trains with Clay Chappell

at A&F Driving Range.

“I do it a lot. I practice before school some days.

If I don’t, I work out in the morning so I can hit it farther,” Bradford said. “My dad wants me to play on the UGA golf team but I want to play in big tournaments. I want to be on the UGA team too, though.

“I want to thank my dad for helping me and for Coach Clay because he helped me make it here. I want to thank God that he has helped guide me here.”

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To Advertise, Call 706.208.2290

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