By Nick Stevens, HighSchoolOT managing editor

Southern Pines, N.C. — East Surry freshman Pennson Badgett entered Tuesday’s final round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 2A boys golf state championship three shots off the lead, which belonged to senior teammate Connor Key.

But Badgett was one of just two golfers to finish under par on Tuesday, and it was just enough to lift him to his first state championship.

Badgett shot a one-under par 71 on Tuesday, which was actually two strokes higher than the 69 he shot in the opening round on Monday. He finished the tournament at 140 (-4).

Tuesday’s round included five birdies for Badgett, but they were nearly balanced out by four bogeys. Two of his bogeys came on holes he birdied on Monday — hole No. 1 and hole No. 3.

The second day was more difficult for the rest of the golfers at the top of the leaderboard though. Key added nine shots to his score form Monday, going from 66 (-6) to 75 (+3). After recording six birdies on Monday, he had just one Tuesday and had four bogeys on the front nine.

Key dropped to a 141 (-3) for the tournament, putting him in a tie for second place with Nate O’Neal of Beddingfield and Holden Rucker of Farmville Central.

Cooper Mizelle of Pine Lake Prep rounded out the top five in the individual standings. Mizelle shot an even par 72 on both Monday and Tuesday to finish with a 144.

Badgett and Key led East Surry to a team championship as well, and the team race wasn’t close. The Cardinals posted a score of +12, combined with Anderson Badgett’s +9 and Jace Goldbach’s +10.

Seaforth finished second in the team standings at +56, followed by Bandys at +59. Polk County and Pine Lake Prep tied for fourth place at +62.

1. Pennson Badgett (East Surry) – 140 (-4)

T2. Nate O’Neal (Beddingfield) – 141 (-3)

T2. Holden Rucker (Farmville Central) – 141 (-3)

T2. Connor Key (East Surry) – 141 (-3)

5. Cooper Mizelle (Pine Lake Prep) – 144 (E)

6. Drew O’Neal (Beddingfield) – 145 (+1)

7. Jonathon Jones (Lincoln Charter) – 146 (+2)

8. John McCoy (Salisbury) – 149 (+5)

T9. Rob Vergevin (Washington) – 150 (+6)

T9. Ethan Cooper Hayes (East Gaston) – 150 (+6)

T9. Atley Gabriel (Bandys) – 150 (+6)

1. East Surry (+12)

2. Seaforth (+56)

3. Bandys (+59)

T4. Polk County (+62)

T4. Pine Lake Prep (+62)

6. Salisbury (+78)

7. Raleigh Charter (+83)

8. Forbush (+88)

9. Research Triangle (+107)

10. Beddingfield (+110)

11. Farmville Central (+148)

12. East Carteret (+163)