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Once a program caught in the shadows of area powers like Farragut and Halls, the Bearden boys’ golf team took a step into a brighter spotlight Monday.
The Bulldogs won the Region 2-AA Tournament at Three Ridges Golf Course, earning a spot in the TSSAA State Golf Tournament for the first time since 1983.
Bryce Harmon, a junior at Bearden, shot 1-under-par 71, and defeated Hardin Valley Academy sophomore Jake Sheffield in a playoff for tournament medalist honors.
Bearden senior Jaden Morrell fired a round of 72 to keep Bearden steady atop the leaderboard.
But sophomore Conner Hall’s round of 75 proved clutch, as well. Why? Well, Hall was 5 over after four holes on Monday, but he rallied and shot 2 under over the final 14.
The Bulldogs’ team total of 12-over 300 fended off nearby pursuers Halls (305) and Maryville (314).
“It’s pretty sweet. The guys and the girls put a ton of time and effort into this, and the parents, as well,” said Bearden coach Tyler Lane. “We’re really supported by teachers and admin at the school, as well. I don’t think you win a region tournament in one day. There’s a lot that goes into it. Our past players and everyone the past however many years has had an impact on it.
“So it’s been a slow build up of a reward. It’s kind of nice to close one out and get them to state.”
Sheffield, Halls senior and Chattanooga commit Ethan Whitaker (72) and Halls junior Evan Caldwell (73) secured individual berths into the Class AA state tournament, which will be held Oct. 9-10 at Sevierville Golf Club.
They’ll be joined by the West Lady Rebels, who — like the Bearden boys — will be essentially newcomers as a team. The West girls have never been collectively, though junior Calley Holbert reached the 2022 state tournament as an individual.
But on Monday, Holbert carded an 81 and fellow junior Anna Claire Gibson signed for 77. And that 158 team total moved the Lady Rebels into the state field by just two strokes.
Bearden (160), Halls (161), Maryville (163) and Gibbs (164) applied the pressure throughout the day.
Holbert birdied the ninth hole at Three Ridges, which was her 18th hole of the day.
And that all but helped seal the victory.
“Honestly, it’s been such a great day. I didn’t play as good as I should have, but I birdied the last hole,” said Holbert, an All-5Star Preps selection in 2022. “I knew every stroke counted. I knew that it would be such a big thing for West to go (to state). I’m pretty sure the girls’ team has never been before.
“Last year, I had a lot of fun (at state). Halls went last year. And watching them go together as a team — it looked like they were having so much fun,” Holbert added. “I was like, ‘Man, I wish my team could be here with me.'”
Heritage junior Sophia Gambini won medalist with a round of 70.
Maya Hira (76, Bearden) and Lauren Davis (79, Halls) claimed the other two individual qualifying spots for state.
Scroll down to see the full leaderboard from the Region 2-AA Tournament.
KINGSTON BOYS, GIRLS HEAD BACK TO STATE
The Kingston boys’ golf team will be seeking history Oct. 12-13 at the Division I, Class A, state tournament at Sevierville Golf Club.
Same can be said for the Lady Yellow Jackets, too.
Both will have those opportunities thanks to their dominating performances Monday in the Region 2-A Tournament at Ridgewood Golf Club in Athens, Tenn.
The Kingston boys won by 69 strokes, firing a 10-over 298 total to post a victory.
Will Bacon, a senior at Kingston, won medalist honors with a round of 5-under 67. Ethan Arneson (72), Parker Jones (74) and Elijah Backus (85) rounded out Kingston’s winning mark.
Now, they’ll turn their focus towards a first-ever, three-peat feat. Last year, they matched the 1999-2000 Kingston golf teams’ back-to-back championship effort by following up their 2021 title with a 13-shot win to claim the 2022 Class A crown.
Joining Kingston’s boys team at state will be three individuals from Region 2-A. Those include: Loudon’s Ben Mackintosh (81), Loudon’s Cooper Carr (82), and Oliver Springs’ Liam Boeke (84).
On the girls’ side, Kingston will be seeking to make amends for a three-shot loss in the 2022 Class A state tournament to eventual winner Summertown.
They certainly looked prepared to do that by their play Monday.
The Lady Yellow Jackets posted an impressive 3-under 141 team total at Ridgewood.
MTSU commit and Kingston senior Brylee Crouse won medalist with a 3-under 69. Teammate Kailey Lane, a Tennessee Tech commit, signed for a 72. Kingston’s girls won by 54.
Individual girls advancing to state from Region 2-A include: Greenback’s Lorien Sweet (74), and Meigs County’s Tynsley Peaden (90) and Macey Bunch (105).
Scroll down to see the full leaderboard from the Region 2-A Tournament.
CATHOLIC’S GIRLS; AREA INDIVIDUALS make Division II-AA State Field
The Knoxville Catholic girls’ golf program captured a berth into next week’s Division II-AA State Tournament at Sevierville, capitalizing on their early look at the course on Monday during the Division II-AA East Region Tournament.
Catholic shot 10-over 154 to finish runner-up to Baylor (143), securing their spot at state. Teagan Walker led Catholic with a 1-over 73. Tori Tampas rounded out Catholic’s mark with an 81.
Webb’s Palmer Sykes will make another state tournament appearance as an individual thanks her 79 Monday.
Meanwhile, Webb’s Tate Woodruff and Catholic’s Grant Odom will play at state next week as individuals.
Woodruff notched a hard-earned win as boys’ medalist with his round of 2-under 70. He then had to outlast the top two players from powerhouse Baylor in a playoff for that honor.
Odom fired a 73 to earn his berth to state.
Baylor won the event at 4-under 284. McCallie (298) was second.
Scroll down to see the full leaderboard from the Division II-AA East Region Tournament.
DIVISION II-AA EAST
at Sevierville Golf Club (Par 72)
BOYS
Baylor (284*): Paquette 70, Desroches 70, McGuire 71, Manner 73
McCallie (298*): Boroughs 72, Gayle 72, Whitfield 75, Coffman 79
Webb (316): Woodruff 70* (medalist), Sprouse 75, Andrew Sandberg 84, Nikhil Patel 87
Catholic (321): Grant Odom 73*, Adam Wright 78, Parker Dimmitt 80, Dean Johnson 90
Chattanooga Christian (363): Blake 76, Bean 88, Cofer 94, Keith 105
* – denotes team or individuals advancing to state
GIRLS
Baylor (143*): Rogers 71 (medalist), All 72, Emond 74
Catholic (154*): Teagan Walker 73, Victoria Tampas 81, Linzy Johnson 89
Chattanooga Christian (174): Ryland 87, Strain 87*
Girls Preparatory School (186): Potts 90, Elrod 96
Webb (inc.): Palmer Sykes 79*
* – denotes team or individuals advancing to state
REGION 2-A
at Ridgewood GC (Par 72) – Athens, Tenn.
BOYS
Kingston (298*): Will Bacon 67 (medalist), Ethan Arneson 72, Parker Jones 74, Elijah Backus 85
McMinn Central (367): Hauk 87, Nick Jay 91, Landon Harris 92, Peyton Reed 97
Loudon (377): Ben Mackintosh 81*, Cooper Carr 82*, Alexander Schmieder 103, Sam Rowe 111
Oneida (378): Brock West 86, George Cline 86, Eli Rector 93, B. Sexton 113
Tellico Plains (379): Lake Sewell. 82, Clint Moser 85, Dawson Edwards 102, Alex Davisson 105
Oliver Springs (382): Liam Boeke 84*, Elijah Brummett 87, Dakota Adkins 98, Jackson Daugherty 113
Notable Individuals: Cy Prince (92, Sweetwater), Mason Roberts (92, Harriman), Joshua Snipes (96, Rockwood), Braden McLemore (97, Meigs County)
* – denotes team or individuals advancing to state
GIRLS
Kingston (141*): Brylee Crouse 69 (medalist), Kailey Lane 72
Meigs County (195): Tynsley Peaden 90*, Macey Bunch 105*
Midway (238): Samantha Snider 106, Harmony Brown 132
Notable Individuals: Lorien Sweet (74*, Greenback)
* – denotes team or individuals advancing to state
REGION 1-AA
at The Country Club at Morristown (Par 72)
BOYS
Science Hill (310*): Wells 72, Hogan 76, Ganders 80, Haire 82
Tennessee (327): Myers 78*, Mcsheehy 80, Myers 83, Terry 86
Morristown West (328): Smith 81, Lindsey 79*, Collake 84, Short 84
Morristown East (340): Spoone 79, Beam 80, Worth 87, Johns 94
Volunteer (344): Williams 83, Cox 83, T. McLain 86, McLain 92
Cherokee (350): Seals 81, McPeek 82, Adkins 93, Phipps 94
INDIVIDUALS: Adams 77*, Carrier 83, Cochran 81, Guinn 83, Eaves 101, Harkleroad 84, McCarter 95, Shrewsbury 83, Williams 91
GIRLS
Dobyns-Bennett (152): Robinson 75, Hauk 77
Science Hill (182): Smith 86*, Mitchell 96
Tennessee (184): Searcy 92, Barnette 92
Jefferson County (188): Royston 89, Howard 99
Northview (193): Rowell 95, Rawlings 98
Greeneville (204): Catron 86*, Broyles 118
INDIVIDUALS: Courtney 88*, Ball 96, Swardika 98
REGION 2-AA
at Three Ridges GC (Par 72) – Knoxville, Tenn.
BOYS
Bearden (300*): Harmon 71 (medalist), Morrell 72, Hall 75, Loftin 82, Culbertson 83
Halls (305): Whitaker 72*, Caldwell 73*, Reitz 79, Wayland 81, Jeansonne 86
Maryville (314): O’Quinn 77, Huddleston 78, Orr 78, Johnson 81, King 82
HVA (318): Sheffield 71*, Williams 76, Shipley 83, Glenn 88, Johnson 89
Campbell County (332): K. Nelson 78, E. Nelson 81, Turpin 85, Adkins 88
West (349): Collett 84, Burch 85, Hopkins 87, Scott 93
NOTABLE INDIVIDUALS: Bentz (74, Oak Ridge), Bolton (74, Central), Niad (74, Oak Ridge), Queener (75, Faragut), Dawson (78, Karns), Roberson (80, Powell), Barton (80, Lenoir City), Myers (84, Fulton), Williams (82, Powell), Warwick (89, Anderson County).
GIRLS
West (158*): Gibson 77, Holbert 81, Phillips 89
Bearden (160): Hira 76*, Larmee 84
Halls (161): Davis 79*, Miller 92, Corvette 96
Maryville (163): Tucker 80, Johnson 83, Miller W/D
Gibbs (164): Farmer 82, Thompson 82
Farragut (176): Holmes 84, Romer 92, Myer 93
NOTABLE INDIVIDUALS: Gambini (medalist, 70*, Heritage), May (93, Anderson County), Patel (93, HVA), Taylor (94, HVA)
* – denotes team or individuals advancing to state
Brad Rose Golf is the proud sponsor of the 5Star Preps golf coverage. Let him take your game or your junior golfer’s game to the next level. Click on the photo to start your lessons today.