The Charlotte Latin girls' golfers are NCISAA champions for the first time in school history. Until this week, it was the only CLS athletic program without a state title, but the Hawks brought home the trophy after a two-day tournament filled with drama. It began with a promising first round of 18 on Monday, October 20. The Hawks finished the day with a 13-stroke lead over Providence Day, who had bested Latin in the CISAA Conference Championship the week before. On day two at Greensboro National Golf Club, with tee times beginning at 9:03 a.m. on a beautiful, clear day and temperatures in the low fifties, the Hawks were cautiously optimistic. The Chargers began chipping away at the lead early, pulling within seven strokes on the front nine. Scores were recorded in the iWanamaker app by the players in real-time, so the tension built as every golfer watched the team tallies creep closer together. By the fifteenth hole, Providence Day had pulled within one stroke and tied it shortly after. 

Each team had five players competing, with the team total comprised of the best three individual scores. Eighth grader Ella Sciacca led off for the Hawks, followed by sophomore Cecilia Clifton, then junior Annabelle Poovey, and anchored by seniors Drue Amin and Kelsey Sciacca. As the final group reached the eighteenth hole, the Hawks were trailing the Chargers by two strokes. Kelsey Sciacca hit a solid drive and landed in the middle of the fairway on her second shot, setting up a 67-yard approach on the par-five hole. With a crowd of people encircling the green, Kelsey took a practice swing, backed off the ball and eyed the flag, then stepped up and set her feet, taking her time. She swung, she watched the trajectory of the ball, which hit the green and bounced twice before dropping in the hole for an eagle. The response was immediate and, for the Hawks, jubilant. Providence Day's final player, Chloe Scofield, the CISAA Player of the Year, still had to finish the hole. She made par, leaving the teams tied at 476 and forcing a one-hole playoff. 

The teams returned to the 18th tee and listened as NCISAA representatives explained the playoff rules. Once again, all five athletes would play the hole with the best three individual results combining for the team score. And once again, the Hawks and the Chargers made things interesting. Ella secured par as Latin's lead-off player, and celebrated as Annabelle also made par, setting up a putting battle between the final four players. It turned out that only Drue needed to putt, having secured the win with a +1 finish. 

The victory was especially sweet for the seniors, who stuck with the program through some lonely years. Kesley attended the state championship by herself as a freshman, having qualified as an individual. She finished tied for tenth that year, moved up to eighth as a sophomore, finished third as a junior, and tied for second place in her final season as a Hawk. Drue also steadily improved over the years, moving up from 24th as a sophomore to finishing tied for 11th as a senior. Both Kelsey and Drue made CISAA 1st Team All-Conference, and Annabelle, Ella, and Cecilia all earned CISAA 2nd Team All-Conference recognition. Congratulations and well done, Hawks! 

Click here for more photos from the dramatic 2nd day of the NCISAA Championship.
Click here to watch Kelsey's eagle shot & the reaction.