HOLLY SPRINGS - The fifth Tri-Nine Conference girls golf match of the season held more importance than just being the one that pushed the league past the halfway point in the season.

It was also the first time a Tri-Nine team reached its second win of the season.

Green Hope, behind the stellar play of medalist Nicolette Donovan, a freshman, doubled its win total by edging Middle Creek by one stroke and Athens Drive by just three strokes at Devil's Ridge Golf Club in Holly Springs.

Green Hope's top four golfers combined for a 116 in the nine-hole round, led by Donovan's 35. She was the only Tri-Nine player to shoot under par during last Wednesday's match (1-under).

"We've got our girls ready to know that it's going to be a grind from this point forward," said Green Hope coach Donna Lerner. "We expect (Donovan) to score well because she is so talented. And I think she leads the (other) girls to want to be better."

The Falcons entered the match tied with Apex, Middle Creek and Athens Drive with one win apiece.

Being the first to win two with four matches to go meant a lot to Lerner, whose team has finished either first or second in all five matches.

Sophie Riegel (40), Maddie Lee (41) and Meghan Symonds (46) rounded out the Falcons' scorers.

"We had some really solid numbers out there," Donovan said. "We needed those three good numbers and we got them, so we're happy."

Donovan's score puts her in a tie with Fuquay-Varina freshman Catherine Ashworth for the conference's player of the year award - which is given to the player with the lowest strokes-per-nine-hole average.

Both Ashworth (36) and Donovan have 36.2. Athens Drive's Sarah Bae is averaging a 36 on the year, but she missed the season's second and third match.

It was the second time Middle Creek had finished runner-up to Green Hope, and the Mustangs are now just three points behind the Falcons in the season-long standings.

Middle Creek's top player was Britney Smith (37). Kennedy Smith and Betsy Dohrer each shot 40.

"Our conference is one of the best in the state," said Middle Creek coach Robbie Wray. "We've finished second (twice) and (both were) by one or two shots. It's tough. There are some good golfers (in the conference)."

Athens Drive had three players shoot 40 or lower in Bae (40), Hilary Gugig (40) and Mande Monchik (39). Apex, which finished fourth, was led by Maddie Merritt's 42.