Unexpected rain delayed play in the girls’ Class 1A-5A, Section 4 golf tournament at Scottsboro yesterday but even rain and gusting winds could not deter Piedmont.

The Bulldogs captured first place in the tournament with a team score of 260, six strokes better than Class 5A Scottsboro, seven better than 4A Alexandria and 18 better the local rival Glencoe.

The top four teams and the top four individuals not on the top four teams advance to the sub-state tournament.

The girls 1A-5A North sub-state will be played at Point Mallard in Decatur on May 4.

“That was some of the worst golf weather I’ve ever seen without there being any lightning,” Piedmont coach Harley Lamey said.

“They made it through the rough part and did well. It shows that they’ve got that focus. They can overcome the conditions and still shoot well.”

Bulldogs Erin Gunnels and Paige Webb were in the first two groups on the Goosepond Colony course.

Gunnels, playing with a hairline fracture in her left arm sustained Monday, shot a 78 – the third lowest score among the early finishers.

After injuring her arm swinging, there was some doubt in Lamey’s mind that Gunnels would be able to play.

“She went out there on the range (Tuesday) morning and started hitting the ball and she was hitting it good,” Lamey said.

Lamey said having to take something off her drives may have helped Gunnels keep the ball low and out of the wind, keeping her in the fairways.

Gunnels opened with a double bogey then birdied the second hole.

She finished the front nine three over par and was three over on the back nine as well.

“She’s got that killer instinct now. She wants to win,” Lamey said.

Webb recorded an 86. Playing later, Katie Ledbetter shot 96 and Caleigh Amberson had a 113.

Monday, at Silver Lakes, in the boys Class 3A, Section 4 tournament, neither Adam Hammett nor Austyn Grissom were able to qualify for the sub-state tournament as individuals.

Hammett shot 91 and Grissom 107.

“I hate that their season is over,” said Lamey.

“They’ve been fun to watch and played some pretty good golf sometimes. It just didn’t happen (Monday).”

Grissom had a disastrous hole on Silver Lakes’ Mindbreaker 3 in his front nine.

“Austyn showed a lot of heart coming back from a hole that a lot of people would have walked off the course and quit,” Lamey said.

Lamey noted Grissom not only continued to play but had pars on the next four holes.

In the final tune-up at Cider Ridge in Kelsey Goodwin Memorial tournament April 19-20, Grissom had rounds of 88 and 94 for a two-day total of 182.

Hammett shot 100 on Monday at 89 on Tuesday for a 189.