SEVIERVILLE – Both the Greeneville boys and girls golf teams are in contention for state championships after one day at the Class A State Tournament, but they both have some ground to make up to bring home the gold.
The Greeneville boys sit in fourth place after shooting a 309 at Sevierville Golf Club on Tuesday. They are four strokes behind leader Signal Mountain (317) and one stroke behind McKenzie and Dyer County (320) who are tied for second place.
“The boys played well. They came in about right at their averages. Some of them got off to rough starts, like in regionals, but they hung in there,” Greeneville coach Todd Ricker said. “They were solid all day. It could have been better, but it could have been a whole lot worse. We have a fighting chance tomorrow.”
The Greene Devils are in the state tournament for the first time since 2010 and are looking to win their first state title since 1983. To do that Ricker needs his guys to be a little bit better on Tuesday, and he is hopeful one of them can have a big day.
“I’m still waiting on one of them to have a day. We haven’t a guy have a big day yet this post season, and I really think its coming tomorrow,” Ricker said.
Consistency was the name of the game for the Greene Devils on Monday as the whole team shot between 76-80. Landon Alridge led Greeneville with a 76. Carson Waters and Nathan Howlett each shot 77. Andrew England had a 79 and Bryson Ricker had an 80.
“It’s huge to have that kind of consistency, and that is what gives us an opportunity,” coach Ricker said. “They have all worked hard and I really want this for them. We just have to stay out of our own way, stay patient and fight to the end. They all have the potential to play great golf. I’ve been telling them that all they have to do is play their average, and I think they realize that after today.”
South Greene’s Keanan Hankins shot a 79 and is tied for 29th as an individual.
There is a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard with McKenzie’s Ethan Bradberry, Dyer County’s Jarrett Harrison and Madison Magnet’s each shooting a one-under-par 71.
The Greene Devils will return to action at 9:14 am in Sevierville.
In the girls tournament the Lady Devils got off to a rough start and after five holes they were a combined 12-over par. After that they were able to settle in and stay in contention, but start left them at a five-stroke deficit at the end of the day.
“The girls didn’t play great today. They struggled putting, and I think the greens are a little slower than they normally are here. But they fought it out and gave themselves a chance. That’s all you can ask for.”
The defending state champions came in at 15-over par (155) on Monday which has them sitting in fourth place and five strokes behind first-place Summertown (150). Springfield is in second at 152 and White County third at 154.
Brylee Catron led the Lady Devils with a 76 on Monday. She was five over after five holes but settled in and finished the day six over par. Kamryn Renner shot a 79 and Kylee Renner shot an 81. All of them have turned in better scores in Sevierville and the goal will be to come back Tuesday and return to form.
“I hope they can play more free tomorrow. They just have to stay in the present and play their game. If they do that, they’ll make some noise,” Ricker said.
Catron is tied for sixth as an individual, but she is just three strokes out of first place. Chloe Byrd of DeKalb County leads the field with a 73.
The Lady Greene Devils will tee off at 9:14 am.
