CONWAY, S.C. — The Atlantic Collegiate Academy boys golf team celebrated a defining moment Wednesday afternoon as the Armada received their SCHSL Class 2A State Championship rings, closing the book on a 2025–26 season that established ACA as one of the most dominant programs in South Carolina. The ceremony honored a roster that blended young talent with veteran steadiness, the same group that delivered a commanding performance at Arcadian Shores Golf Club to secure the school's first boys golf state title.
ACA captured the championship with a 36-hole team score of 594 (+9), finishing an astonishing 39 strokes ahead of the second-place team's 633. The margin of victory was one of the largest statewide last season and reflected the consistency and depth that defined the Armada throughout the year. Freshman
Jackson McCormick led the way, winning the individual state championship with rounds of 71 and 69 for a 140 total, capping a breakout debut season. Junior
Nick Tarbert followed with rounds of 74 and 71 to secure second place, while freshman
Elijah Hawkinberry posted matching 73s to finish third, giving ACA a sweep of the top three positions on the leaderboard.
Juniors
Ryan Lee and
Rodney Dennis rounded out the scoring with matching totals of 165, finishing T-29 and providing the stability needed to secure the title. Lee carded rounds of 79–84, while Dennis posted 81–84, each delivering crucial counting scores that helped ACA separate from the field.
The championship roster included
Kevin Black Jr.,
Rodney Dennis,
Elijah Hawkinberry,
Briley Laps,
Ryan Lee,
Jackson McCormick,
Ollie Pearce, and
Nick Tarbert. Under Head Coach Zach Hawkinberry, the Armada spent the entire season ranked among the top teams in South Carolina regardless of classification, earning high finishes across major tournaments and consistently proving they could compete with and defeat programs from larger divisions.
As players slipped on their rings, the moment served as a celebration of months of preparation, late-evening practices, and the standard of excellence that has become synonymous with ACA Athletics. The 2026 boys golf team didn't just win a championship they set a new benchmark for the program and cemented their place in ACA history.
About Atlantic Collegiate Academy: Atlantic Collegiate Academy (ACA), located in Conway, S.C., serves high school students in a safe, small and family-centered setting. Our students seek the opportunity and challenge of rigorous curriculum, high academic standards and elite athletics while also earning up to two years of college credit. ACA serves students in grades 9-12 using an honors curriculum in 9th and 10th grades with a dual enrollment curriculum in 11th and 12th grades.
Learn more about ACA by visiting our website at AtlanticCollegiate.Academy and by following us on social media on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (X).
