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NORTHEAST GEORGIA - Yesterday we started counting down our top 10 local sports stories of the year. Today we finish things up with our top 5 local sports stories of the year.
In at number 5 is the Athens Regional Foundation Classic. This year's tournament had a number of memorable moments and our cameras were there. The first was an unbelievable hole-in-one. Former UGA golfer Brendon Todd aced number 17 at Jennings Mill two days in a row.
The other unforgettable moment of the tournament was Patrick Sheehan's putt to force a playoff and his tournament win on the first playoff hole.
Our number 4 local sports story of the year started on January 7th, that's when Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Knowshon Moreno announced they were leacving school early for the NFL. The story continued on UGA's pro day in January when a scout from every NFL team showed up. The story was capped off with Stafford being taken number 1 overall in April's draft.
Our number 3 sports stories of the year are a pair of national champions.
In 2009 both the Emmanuel College Men's basketball team and the Toccoa Falls baseball team won National Christian College Athletic Association Championships. The Lions in Division one and the Eagles in Division 2.
Our number 2 story of the year also has to do with national champions. For the 10th time in school history the Georgia Gym Dogs took home the NCAA team title. Led by Honda Award winner Courtney Kupets, the Gym Dogs became the first program in the nation to win double digit titles. They also sent legendary coach Suzanne Yoculan into retirement in style
The top local sports story of the year comes from the world of high school football. 2009 was the year that a pair of traditional powers climbed back to the top. In early December the Gainesville Red Elephants and the Clarke Central Gladiators both earned spots in state championship games in the Georgia Dome. Although both teams fell in heartbreakers, the two ended over 15 year long droughts of title game appearances.
