“That’s pretty much it,” the Lineville senior said of Monday’s round at Gadsden County Club.
And a fine one it was. Lett tallied two birdies to card a 2-over 73 and win the Class 1A-2A Section 2 tournament by two strokes over Altamont’s Christian Smoke.
“About the last five holes I realized I could have a pretty good round no matter what — well, if I stayed out of the water and the woods,” Lett said.
Lett sunk a fast-moving 15-footer at the par 4 ninth to make the turn at 1-under. Inside that aforementioned window, he collected another birdie sticking a 8 iron to within 2 feet on the 157-yard Par 3 15th.
Lett’s strong round wasn’t a surprise. In the Dixie PGA Juniors summer season, Lett tied for third with a 74 at the same course en route to winning player of the year honors for the 16-18 age division.
Pleasant Valley qualified for the fourth and final spot as a team, but it wasn’t without a fight.
After the Raiders finished their 18-hole day, they were tied with Altamont and went to a sudden death playoff. All five players from the two teams replayed No. 18 three times — tying the first two.
On the third try, Pleasant Valley won by three strokes.
Pleasant Valley had history on its side.
The Raiders secured the fourth and final spot in next week’s sub-state tournament by defeating Altamont in a playoff.
For 12th-year coach Rex McAllister it was his sixth playoff victory against only two losses in his career.
“I only talked to my guys for about one minute,” he said. “I told them they’d never been there but the Raiders before them had. I said, “We’re good. We’re going to take this.’”
And take it they did.
Lucky Fortenberry’s 82 led the Raiders followed by Garrett Shew’s 84, Nick Bonds and David Glass’s 103s and Sam Prickett’s 106.
The Raiders will vie for a spot in the state tournament in sub-state play next week at Silver Lakes.
Fayetteville won the tournament followed by Fyffe and Appalachian.
Ohatchee’s Dylan Houston qualified as a individual after a round of 87.
All qualifiers from today’s round move on to the sub-state round, which takes place at Silver Lakes on Monday.
