SEVIERVILLE – South Greene senior Kolben Gregg’s prolific golf career with the Rebels came to an end on Tuesday on the state’s highest stage.
“I tried to walk a little slower today and tried to soak up every moment,” Gregg said. “It doesn’t feel too good to leave like this. It’s been a good run, and I’ve loved it. I’ve made a lot of really good friends out here on the golf course and I’m really going to miss it.”
In the field of 62 golfers at the Class A State Tournament at Sevierville Golf Club Gregg finished in a tie for 11th place with a two-day total of 154 strokes (74-80). It was the third time he qualified for the state tournament and his third strong finish after placing ninth in 2023 and fourth in 2022.
“It feels good to say that I have been here for three years,” Gregg said. “A lot of people can’t say that. I qualified by one stroke at the region, and I got to finish my South Greene career at the state tournament.”
Coming into Tuesday’s second round Gregg was in contention for the state championship, just three strokes out of first place after shooting a two-over par 74 on Monday. In the second round on Tuesday Gregg struggled early and began slipping down the leader board through the front nine as he shot a six-over par 42.
In the closing stretch Gregg turned in a pair of birdies over the final four holes to climb five spots up the final rankings. That included a well-executed birdie on the final hole of his career as a Rebel.
“I had a good day and a bad day down here,” Gregg said. “I just couldn’t get a rhythm today to feel like I was consistently playing good. It really felt like the last four holes were the only good stretch. I felt like coming into today that if I could get my putts to fall I had a good chance of winning, but then I just couldn’t make a shot.”
Greyson Koch of White House Heritage shot a one-over par 145 to claim the individual state championship. Stewart County won the boys team championship by shooting a 613 over two days, Ayden Smith led the way with a 146.
In the girls Tournament, Chuckey-Doak, who made the field as a team for the first time ever, finished in fifth place with a 376.
Layla Fox led the way for the Lady Black Knights with a 12th place finish as in individual. She shot 171 (85-86) over two days.
Fox was playing in the state tournament for the third time and turned in her best finish on the tough course after placing 24th in 2023 and 21st in 2022.
Harley Thompson shot a 210 for the Lady Knights (106-104) and Kyleigh Crawford shot a 216 (117-99).
Cascade shot a 302 to win the girls Class A team state championship. Tatyana Greene led the way with a 149.
Maddie Gray of Westview shot a 148 to win the individual state championship.
