Story By Jason Bowen
The Scottsboro varsity boys golf team is adding to the school’s state-championship trophy case.
The Wildcats outlasted Bayside Academy to win the 2026 AHSAA Golf Championships’ Class 5A Boys state championship Tuesday at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail’s Silver Lakes Course in Glencoe.
It’s the first team state championship in golf for Scottsboro.
“It was an incredible feeling as a coach to watch these guys perform the way they did on the biggest stage of the season,” said first-year Scottsboro head coach Zach Belvin. “They stayed composed, trusted their preparation, and competed with confidence all week. To see all of their hard work pay off with the first state championship in school history is something none of us will ever forget.
The Wildcats were tied for the lead after Round 1 and finished with a two-round score of 640, shooting a 313 in Round 1 and a 327 in Round 2. State runner-up Bayside Academy (644) finished four shots back of Scottsboro while Guntersville (671) was third and Andalusia (705) was fourth.
“The first day was huge because it put us in position to compete for the championship going into the final round,” Belvin said. “We knew it was going to be close, and our guys understood every shot mattered. Going into Round 2, the feeling was focused and determined. Nobody got ahead of themselves. They just stayed locked in on the game plan and kept battling until the end. I think the biggest keys were consistency, mental toughness and teamwork. We avoided big mistakes for the most part, managed the golf course well and had different guys step up at important moments throughout the tournament. Our golfers also did a great job staying patient under pressure and trusting the work they’ve put in all season.”
Scottsboro nearly added its second individual state champion, as sophomore Connor Hooper just missed joining 2009 Scottsboro Class 5A individual state champion Thomas Looney on that list. Hooper post a two-round score of 7-over par 151 and finished second, one shot back of Guntersville’s Ty Hester. Hooper totaled 15 pars and one birdie while carding a Round 1-leading 1-over par 72 on Monday before turning in a 6-over par 78 with 12 pars and one birdie in Tuesday’s second and final round.
Hooper was one of four Wildcats that finished in the Top-10 individual standings.
Scottsboro junior Hensen McCrary shot a two-round 15-over par 76-82-158 to tie for fourth place while junior Jackson Moore was ninth (79-88-167) and sophomore Paul Stewart (89-79-168) tied for 10th. Senior Gasper Verner finished 20th (85-97-182).
Golf is the 15th different sport in which Scottsboro High School athletic teams have won a state championship.
“Scottsboro has such a strong tradition of athletics,” Belvin said, “and so many great teams and athletes have come through here over the years. For this group to be the first golf team to win a state championship is something really special. I’m proud of the way these guys represented our school, our community, and everyone who has supported our program along the way.”
And the good news for Scottsboro is that four golfers from this season’s state line-up return next season.
“It’s definitely exciting because these players now know what it takes to compete and win at the highest level,” Belvin said. “The experience they gained this week is invaluable and having four guys returning gives us a strong foundation moving forward. At the same time, this group will always be special because they’re the ones who set the standard and made history for our program.”
