STATESBORO - The Long County Blue Tide golf team has their first state tournament qualifier since 2021. On Tuesday, April 22, the teams competed in the area tournament to determine team and individual state qualifiers with Brianna Copes making history.

The teams competed in the area tournament at Forest Heights Country Club in Statesboro. Both teams shot well, but missed qualifying as teams for the state tournament.

Copes, a senior girls golfer for the Tide, became the first Lady Tide golfer in history to qualify for the state tournament. She was the top scorer out of teams that did not qualify for the state tournament after she shot a 113 and finished ninth overall.

The girls’ team overall finished in fifth place, two spots out of qualifying for the state tournament as a team.

On the boys side, the team was one place outside of qualifying for the state tournament as a team. However, they did have a bit of history made on their side as well.

Rence Skipper, who has broken multiple records for the Tide golf team this season, broke another one at the area tournament.

Skipper shot an 80, which is the lowest 18-hole score for any Blue Tide golfer in team history. He finished 10th overall and was just four strokes outside of qualifying for the state tournament as an individual.

Skipper would have been the first Blue Tide boys golfer to qualify for the state tournament since Garrett Bleyman in 2019.

Copes will now compete in the state tournament May 19-20 at Highland Country Club in LaGrange.