AHSAA News | North-South Golf All-Stars Announced for 2024 All-Star Week Competition (2024)

MONTGOMERY – North-South All-Star squads for the upcoming 5th annual AHSAA North-South All-Star Boys’ and Girls’ Golf competition have been selected. The four teams comprised of 2025 rising seniors were announced by Brandon Dean, Director of the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association (AHSADCA) Friday.
The AHSADCA, which operates under the auspices of the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) will also host all-star games in basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, boys’ and girls’ soccer, cross country and tennis during the All-Star Week, July 15-18. All other all-star teams have already been announced.
The 65th annual North-South All-Star Football Game was played last December at Mobile with the South winning 31-28. The 66^th Game will be played at Mobile next December with players selected during the fall.
Coaches for the 2024 All-Star Golf squads are: (North Girls) Craig Kiker, Alexandria; Ginger Willingham, Mars Hill Bible; Keat Litton, Spain Park (administrative coach).
(South Girls) Alex Davis, Smiths Station; David Armstrong, St. Paul’s Episcopal; Jay Koziol, UMS-Wright (administrative coach).
(North Boys) Jonathan Hayes, Cullman; Keat Litton, Spain Park; (South Boys) Alex Davis, Smiths Station; David Armstrong, St. Paul’s Episcopal; Jay Koziol, UMS-Wright (administrative coach).
Alexandria’s Kiker led the Valley Cubs to the Class 4A/5A girls’ state championship in 2024. Administrative coaches Litton and Koziol guided Spark Park’s boys and UMS-Wright’s girls to the Class 7A state crowns, respectively.
Among the players selected for the North girls’ all-star team is Oneonta’s Savannah Sandlin, who tied the AHSAA state girls’ record with a 9-under par 63 in the Class 4A/5A sub-state competition. Playing as an individual in the state tourney, she finished fifth. Also anchoring the girls’ North squad is Polly Kathryn McCrackin of Hayden
Anchoring the South girls’ squad is two-time defending Class 6A state champion Pike Road’s Lauryn Leonard, who finished fifth in the Class 6A state tourney in May with a 4-over 112 in the 27-hole competition. Gulf Shores’ Rayla Pierce was fifth in the Class 4A/5A girls’ state tourney for the Dolphins.
Among the players selected for the South boys’ squad is Jonathan (Jon Ed) Steed of Enterprise, who fired a 69-37 – 106 in the Class 7A state tourney to finish second overall in the final individual boys’ finish. Of special note is Luke Ferguson of Bayside Academy, who tied for fifth in Class 4A with a 2-over 74 as that division managed to complete only 18 holes before weather ended the competition. Just one week earlier, he earned MVP honors leading the Admirals to their fourth consecutive Class 4A state soccer championship. He was also selected to compete in the North-South All-Star boys’ soccer match during All-Star Sports Week.
The North boys’ golf team includes Westbrook Christian’s Cole McHugh, who was 10^th overall in the Class 3A final individual state meet standings. He helped the Warriors claim the boys’ state crown. Mountain Brook’s Jackson Skinner finished sixth in the Class 6A state tourney with a 3-over 75-36 – 111 total.
The North girls’ all-stars won last year’s North-South match-play competition 48.5 to 41.5 to improve to 3-1 in the overall competition. The North boys won 55-35 and moved to 4-0 in the series.