STATE GOLF 2021 (Final Round): Kingston boys end state title drought, CAK wins fifth in a row

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By JESSE SMITHEY

If you happen upon Kingston Golf someday on Twitter, you’ll find an account profile that proudly lists the program’s top accomplishments.

The state-tournament appearances. The state runner-up finishes.

The state titles.

For the duration of the social media account’s history, the boys’ state championships from 1999 and 2000 owned the marquee spot.

But now there’s another championship to add.

The Kingston boys’ golf program, knowing all season it had the goods to win it all, saw that promise come to fruition this week at the Sevierville Golf Club’s River Course. The Yellowjackets nabbed the Division I-A state championship by seven shots over South Gibson.

“It’s an amazing feeling to be a state champion,” said Kingston standout Blake Woody. “There has only been three state golf championships won at Kingston, and it’s an honor to be a part of one of them.”

And CAK, in Division II-A, reigned supreme again. The Warriors constructed a strong closing final round to fend off upset-minded Trinity Christian to win a fifth consecutive state championship by 20 strokes.

But Kingston’s trumph was the emotional story of the day.

After having finished as state runner-up the past two seasons, Kingston shot 24-over 312 on the final day to finish at 43-over 619.

Woody and Colby Johnson spearheaded the effort.

Woody, a junior, finished solo fifth. He shot a final-round, 3-over 75 to finish at 5-over 149 for the two-day event.

Johnson landed one shot back in solo sixth place, his final-round 73 having rocketed him up the leaderboard.

The senior shot 2 under on his final five holes to help Kingston secure the win.

“It’s a feeling that I can’t really put into words,” Johnson said of the title. “Coming up short the past two years really motivated me to get the win. It being my senior year and finishing out my high school career like that just really made it complete.

“Me and my teammates have worked so hard to be where we’re at today, and I couldn’t be more proud. Getting to represent Kingston and Lakeside just makes it that more special. It was an awesome experience, and I’ll never forget it.”

Also in Division I-A, Aidan Collier of North Greene added to his state-tournament legacy Friday. Having finished runner-up as a freshman in 2019 and fourth in 2020, Collier shot rounds of 6-under 66 and a final-round, bogey-free 65 to post 11-under.

But that mark finished second to Tennessee commitment Evan Woosley-Reed, whose pair of 66s just beat back Collier by one. Woolsey birdied the par-5 18th hole to clinch the victory.  Collier birdied Nos. 15-17 to make a charge but parred the last.

CAK came into the Division II-A boys championship as the unquestioned favorite, especially since it boasted senior and defending state champion Kaleb Wilson. The Warriors shot 5-over 293 Friday to take their eight-shot, first-round lead and run away from the pack.

Wilson, a West Virginia commitment and the two-time 5Star Preps Golfer of the Year, didn’t disappoint, either. He met the challenge and steered the Warriors to another gold trophy — their eighth overall, all coming in the last 13 years.

Wilson, one back of the lead heading into the final round, birdied his 12th, 13th, 14th and 16th holes of the day Friday to kick-start the final surge for CAK.

But while first-round leader Conner Brown (Webb-Bell Buckle) stumbled to a final-round 75, Wilson ultimately landed in a three-way tie for first at 6-under 138. The two other players he was tied with at 71 after Day One also carded final-round 67s.

Luke Sienkiewicz of Evangelical Christian School put together a final-round, 5-under 67 to land at 138. He birdied five of six holes during a front-nine stretch Friday. Patton Samuels of Clarksville Academy also shot 67 in the final round, birdieing two of his final four holes to sneak into the playoff.

A three-putt bogey in the playoff did in Wilson, though, on the first hole and the other two players moved on. Samuels eventually topped Sienkiewicz with a birdie on the second playoff hole for the Division II-A individual title.

CAK’s Jackson Hughey finished sixth (3-over 147) after a final-round 72. He eagled the 18th hole.

Benjamin Johnston tied for eighth for CAAK at 7-over 151, firing rounds of 76 and 75. Blake Russell rounded out CAK’s lineup, signing for 78 and 79 this week. He finished tied for 14th.

Cooper Roberts of First Baptist Academy had a solid week. The sophomore shot 74 and 77 to tie for eighth.

GIRLS STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Summertown cruised to the Division I-A state title, finishing at 4-over 284. Their margin of victory over second-place Riverside: 31 shots.

The Kingston girls, in their first state-tournament appearance, claimed third (319). Led by sophomore Brylee Crouse, Kingston shot a sound 13-over 153 team total Friday to finish strong.

Crouse claimed fifth individually, her final-round, 1-over 71 on Sevierville’s Highlands Course proving to be 10 shots better than her opening round. Making four birdies Friday certain helped that.

Teammate and fellow sophomore Kailey Lane improved, as well. After an opening 85 on Thursday, she carded an 82 in the final round to sneak into the top 10 in a tie for ninth.

Ole Miss commitment Sophie Linder enjoyed a first-round, seven-shot lead after an opening 63. But she barely staved off Summertown’s Karlie Campbell’s final-round 63 to win by one shot at 8-under 132.

McMinn Central’s Kerigan Klauber was sixth at 18-over 158 thanks to a 78 Friday. Greenback’s Lorien Sweet also shot 78 Friday and wound up seventh (159). Elizabeth Moody (L&N Stem) finished 14th with rounds of 81 and 88.

In Division II-A girls tournament, Providence Christian secured the title with ease over Trinity Christian. The CAK girls finished fifth.

The Lady Warriors all finished bunched together on the Division II-A leaderboard: Alexis Fishel (77-89) and Anna Claire Gibson (80-86) tied for 14th. Malerie Taylor was one back in 16th after rounds of 83 and 84.

Berean’s Emery Fisher was 13th at 164 after a final-round 81.