The 2015-16 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Boys Golf Teams were selected based on performance and level of competition primarily at the high school level. Junior golf success was a secondary consideration, and those who did not compete regularly for their high school were not considered.
MORE:
ALL-USA Boys Golf: Second Team
ALL-USA Golfer of the Year: Davis Shore, Christian Academy (Knoxville, Tenn.)
Chris Parker of Columbus High School (Ga.) is the 2015-16 ALL-USA Boys Golf Coach of the Year (Photo: Chris Parker)
COACH PROFILE:
Name: Chris Parker
School: Columbus (Ga.)
After his team won the Georgia Class AAAAA state title this spring, Parker told the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, “this is the best season we have ever had.”
That’s high praise from the 22nd-year coach who had already won a pair of state championships and 15 regional titles in the past 16 years in a state that annually churns out more than its fair share of golfing talent.
But a quick glance at the team’s 2016 accomplishments justifies Parker’s claim. The Blue Devils posted a team score of 282 at the state tournament to win by 14 strokes. Not only was 282 the lowest score of any team in any classification in Georgia this season, it was the lowest since Marist (Atlanta) posted a blistering 279 in 2013 to win the Class AAAA crown.
Junior Nolan Miller paced Columbus with a 66 to earn individual medalist honors, while sophomore Rudy Pearson (71), sophomore Ben Carr (72) and junior Daniel Davis (73) all posted Top 10 finishes as well.
In addition to the state tournament domination, Columbus won the regional championship by 15 shots and added a victory at the prestigious Larry Gaither Hardaway Invitational, a massive event featuring teams from Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina.
Considering the Blue Devils’ top six golfers were underclassmen this spring, Parker could be looking at back-to-back state titles — a feat he accomplished in 2010 and 2011.
Chris Parker (in black) of Columbus High School (Ga.) is the 2015-16 ALL-USA Boys Golf Coach of the Year (Photo: Chris Parker)