Justin Lewis shot a career-low 41 as the Faith Christian Academy golf team defeated visiting Young Americans Christian by 53 strokes Thursday in a sub-state playoff match at the Griffin Country Club to advance to the ICSGA State match next week.

Thursday’s playoff match was never in question as James Yevick (43), Chris Flake (47) and Jake Farrell (48) rounded out the Lions three best scores on a day when Young Americans shot 232 to FCA’s 179. Rounding out the rest of Faith Christian’s lineup were Eric Berryman (49) and Dalton Thiel (51).

“We didn’t play as well as we could, but we played well enough to win,” said Lions head coach Bob Chappell, whee school was on spring break this week.

Because of a cancellation in one match and a forfeit in another, Thursday’s match came 16 days removed from Faith Christian’s last match in a season where the Lions are undefeated through eight matches.

The Lions now set their sites on the Independent Christian Schools of Georgia and Alabama Athletic Association championship, a place where Faith Christian Academy has finished runner-up the past two seasons.

The Lions are hoping the third time is the charm.

“We feel like we have a chance to bring home the first state championship of any kind for Faith Christian Academy,” said Chappell, who has coached the team the past three seasons.

It’s hard to see how they won’t.

State will again be at Cedar Lake Golf Club in Loganville, Ga., a place all of Faith Christian’s starters are familiar with from the past two seasons. Furthermore, the Lions have overwhelming won their matches this season, making them the prohibitive favorite, at least on paper, heading into the championship.