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The Northside golf team raised its game against tougher competition with a second place finish at the Ayden Country Club Thursday.

The Panthers finished behind the J.H. Rose B team and ahead of D.H. Conley and South Central with a four-player 18 hole total of 366 and Gavin Sawyer finished third in the individual competition with an 81, three shots behind the medalist from South Central.

“Our goal is to win the 1A East regional and this is the kind of competition we will face,” coach Jared Adams said. “It was good for our kids to learn that they have to focus on every shot because the rest of their playing group is as good or better than they are. We’ve done well on our conference so far, but we need to play against tougher opponents to prepare for the post-season.”

David Wallace (91), Claire Holmes (95), and Wyatt Berry (99) rounded out the Northside team total.

“Gavin and David have separated themselves from the rest of the group so far, but the other three starting spots are always up for grabs,” Adams said. “Five golfers start and the top four scores make up the team total. It’s been a different starting lineup almost every time, which makes practices more focused and competative.”

The Panthers finished second to Riverside in the East regional last spring and placed eighth in the state tournament. The last regional championship came in 2016 and Adams is ready for another one.

“This team is better than the 2016 team so far and our depth is the reason,” Adams said. “The other part of it is that I’ve coached most of them since they were eight or nine in the summer at my Bayview golf camp. Most of them have stuck with it and our team is better because of it.”

Adams said 90 is a reachable 18 hole score for those who haven’t already surpassed it, which would make a strong post-season showing.

“Bogey golf is the goal for everybody,” he said. “I think we are capable of low 340’s to high 330’s, which would put us in the hunt in the state tournament. Everyone is confident and having fun right now. We have another six weeks or so to keep improving, so we’ll see.”