Lots of skipper praise after first FHS golf tourney
Combined CAK effort nets boys title, girls 2nd; KCHS 1st
Due to an inadvertent infraction — “a mix-up on some tee boxes” according to Farragut High School head coach Jon Higgins — a resulting 6-stroke penalty during opening-round play Monday, July 27, left Higgins’ Lady Admirals (323) finishing the 36-hole, two-day tourney third instead of tied for first.
Medalist Kennedy Noe (+ 9), a senior, led team champ Knoxville Catholic (317), along with Amelia Rechter’s sixth-place finish (+22).
The Lady Irish edged out Christian Academy of Knoxville (318). Sophomore Kate Faulkner, who captured second individually (+11), paced the Lady Warriors along with teammates Allie Cooper, fourth (+19), and freshman Malerie Taylor fifth (+21) in her first high school tournament.
On the boys’ side, CAK finished as champs (614), barely edging Halls (615),with Farragut 10 strokes behind (624). Webb placed fourth (634) while Bearden took seventh (671).
Harrison Thompson of KCHS finished tops among individual boys at even par, with CAK’s Ben Johnston fifth (+2) and Warrior Jackson Hughey 11th (+8), followed by Jack Myers of Webb 12th (+8).
(More details on the FHS boys later in this story)
Lady Admirals in detail
Gabrielle Starling, an FHS junior, would have finished in fourth place (+12) if not for the inadvertent tee box issue. Teammate Vivian Wang, also a junior, actually finished third (+19).
“Gabby Starling played extremely well,” Higgins said. “She had two rounds of 78, which was really, really impressive. … She came on strong at the end of last year and I’m glad to see it continue in the early parts of this year.
“I thought Vivian played well (Monday),” the coach added about his other junior. “She had moments (Tuesday).” Senior Lindsay Ott “played exceptionally well on the back nine both days,” Higgins said. “… I thought it was a good sign for her to stick with it and battle through.”
FHS boys in detail
“Brady Harville, he’s a freshman, he played extremely well both days,” Higgins said about his 14th-place finish (+8).
“Owen Queener, another freshman, played exceptionally well (Tuesday), he shot a 75,” the coach said about him finishing 17th (+11).
“I thought A.J. Rinehart played well (Monday)” with a round 74 before finishing 22nd (+16).
