GUYTON — Logan Byrd treats words the same as her golf shots. She tries to keep them to a minimum.
Byrd didn’t have much to say after inking a national letter of intent to attend Brenau University. She used only a sentence or two to thank those in attendance at her May 22 signing ceremony in the South Effingham gym and quickly sat down.
Afterward, Byrd was a little more forthcoming.
“It’s in a great location (Gainesville) and the coach (Damon Stancil) is wonderful,” Byrd said. “He is very knowledgeable and willing to work with people.”
Brenau completed the 2019 season in fifth place in the Appalachian Athletic Conference qualifier behind SCAD-Atlanta, Milligan College, Tennessee Wesleyan and Point University. The Lady Tigers will have three letter winners return in 2020.
“The team is really a family and is really inclusive. They were excited for me to be there (during the recruiting visit),” Byrd said.
Byrd said she settled on the Lady Tigers very recently.
“I was looking at different schools and determining where I wanted to go. Brenau really fit when I realized how much they wanted me,” she said.
Byrd’s signing came just one day after South Effingham (+140) finished fourth in the Class AAAAA tournament behind Starr’s Mill (+56), Veterans (+86) and McIntosh (+132) at Sunset Hills in Carrollton.
“It was a very rough two days,
Byrd said. “Individually, it wasn’t too great, but my scores did help the team.”
Byrd, a four-year golfer for South Effingham, finished in a tie for 41st overall.
“Down here in coastal Georgia, we are used to flat land and there were steep inclines up there,” she said. “It was a learning experience. I’m going to have to get used to it (in college).”
Despite her struggles in Carrollton, Byrd never lost her composure, a fact that was noticed by a parent following an opposing team.
“She had some back luck in the tournament,” South Effingham coach Mitchell Curry said. “She hit the flag stick a couple of times and had to hit out of some stone rocks at one point. ... But the parent said he had never seen anyone so focused and calm in the event.
“That is just a testament to her focus and dedication.”
