Area golfers vying for state success
This week, several local participants will hit the links at Sevierville Golf Club for the Division I and II golf state championships.
Farragut’s Sophie Williams will represent the Admirals after defeating teammate Harper Holmes in a playoff at the Region 2-AA Tournament last Monday, Sept. 28, at Island Pointe Golf Club in Kodak.
On the same course, the Hardin Valley girls team qualified for state for the third consecutive year after beating the Lady Ads by seven strokes with a 167 overall.
Addisyn Newman led HVA as the medalist.
Meanwhile, Bearden advances to state as a team after winning Region 2-AA Tournament with 304. William Ibbotson paced the Dawgs with a 72, pushing his team ahead of a Hardin Valley boys squad that finished five strokes back — thus eliminating the Hawks from contention for a second straight state title.
Still, Hardin Valley’s Arjun Patel does advance on to state as an individual, topping his competitors with a 70 to move on as the medalist.
On the Division II side, two Webb players will take the course as individuals. Junior Colmore Sprouse won his region tournament last week in a playoff, while senior Grayson Parker advances, too.
In terms of team success, CAK’s boys and girls teams will both move on to the state tournament after finishing as region runners-up at The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay Golf Course the previous Tuesday, Sept. 22.
Notably, it will be the 15th all-time state appearance for the Warriors and their 11th in the last 12 years, as they seek their first state title since 2022.
The Lady Warriors advance to state for the 13th time in the last 15 years, as they are going for their third-straight team title in Division II-A.
Catholic is looking to start a similar trend, as the Lady Irish will compete at the state tournament for the fourth consecutive year. Charlie Schmidt, a KCHS sophomore, came just short of qualifying as an individual to represent the boys team after losing in a playoff.
On the scorecard, the Lady Warriors totaled a 162 between Kalen Jackson, Landrie Lane and Lenlee Smith while the Warriors fired a 290 between Tyler Stafford, Aiden Cooper, Roddy Sturgeon, Tanner Varney and Ryan Miller. CAK’s boys will be looking to expound on their district title, which they won Sept. 17.
Meanwhile, the Catholic girls’ 154 — second only to Baylor’s 139 at the region tourney — edged Girls Preparatory School by a single stroke to push the Irish back to Sevierville. Teagan Walker and Linzy Johnson each shot 77, while Anna Kate Coatney totaled 94.
