The UMS-Wright Bulldogs continued their dominance at the Azalea City Invitational, successfully defending their title for the third consecutive year. Held at Azalea City Golf Course in Mobile, the tournament remains a team favorite due to its unique format, which features a combination of best ball, scramble, and stroke play.

Monday's opening round was set to include 36 holes, but thunderstorms caused a six-hour delay, forcing the event to be shortened to just nine holes of best ball and nine holes of scramble. Despite the disruption, the Bulldogs remained in the hunt. Seniors Thomas Crane and Pierce Guy paired up to score a 33 in best ball and a 32 in the scramble. Sophomore Witt Cayce and freshman Henry Brown followed with a 34 in best ball and a 33 in the scramble, while junior Parker Crabtree and freshman Lowery Church rounded out the team with a 36 and 32, respectively. Junior Hunter Smallwood and freshman Jackson Stubbs, playing as individuals, each posted a 37 in both rounds. After combining the two lowest scores from each nine, the Bulldogs finished third with a team score of 131, just one stroke behind Northridge and Spanish Fort, who shared the lead at 130.

Tuesday's final round brought better weather and an opportunity for the Bulldogs to make a move. With nine teams within ten strokes of the lead, the final 18-hole stroke play round promised a dramatic finish. UMS-Wright took an early lead but had to hold off a late surge from Northridge, which cut the deficit to just one stroke with two holes remaining. Henry Brown led the Bulldogs with a four-under 68, tying for the low medalist award and later securing the title outright with a sudden-death playoff victory on the second hole. Crane contributed a one-under-par 71, while Cayce delivered an even-par 72. Three of the four counting scores for the Bulldogs were at par or better, a testament to their strong play under pressure. Smallwood rounded out the team score with a 78, helping the Bulldogs finish with a team total of 289.

The victory marked UMS-Wright's third straight Azalea City Invitational title, but more importantly, it showed that the team could put together two solid rounds and build momentum heading into the second half of the season. Head coach Brent Daugherty praised his team's resilience, noting their ability to handle weather delays and stay focused.

"I couldn't be more proud of the boys," Daugherty said. "They handled the multiple-weather delays well on Monday and shot solid scores that kept us within striking distance for day two. All season we have hurt ourselves on day one, making it difficult to catch up on day two. We finally performed well on Monday and gave ourselves a chance on Tuesday. I am proud of how they took care of business and how well they played 'team golf' this week."

With confidence and momentum on their side, the Bulldogs now turn their attention to the Joe King Memorial as they continue their quest for a championship season.

Tournament Scores (Best Ball/Scramble/Strokes/Total)

1- UMS-Wright  (67/64/289/420)

2 - Northridge (65/65/299/429)

3 - Spanish Fort (66/64/300/430)

4 - Vestavia Hills (70/65/297/432)

5 - Auburn (70/66/297/433)

6 - Daphne (68/66/307/441)

7 - Smiths Station (70/69/307/446)

8 - Jackson (73/67/315/455)

9 - Scottsboro (74/70/316/460)

10 - McGill-Toolen (72/70/326/468)

11 - Fairhope (77/71/322/470)

12 - St. Paul's (69/67/336/472)

13 - American Christian Academy (71/72/330/473)

14 - St. Michael (75/72/333/480)

15 - Gulf Shores (73/72/339/484)

16 - Bayside (77/77/391/545)