KINGSPORT – It took 19 holes on Wednesday afternoon at Ridgefields Golf Club, but the Greeneville girls golf team was able to unseat the defending state champion Dobyns-Bennett and earn their first trip to the state tournament since 2014.
At the Region 1-AA Tournament the Lady Devils finished regulation tied with Lady Indians at 167 strokes, but one stroke in a playoff hole lifted Greeneville to a region title.
“The girls played well in a pressure-packed situation, in a tournament two of them have never played in,” Greeneville coach Nathan Hale said. “They have scored better this year. But to be in this situation against the defending state champs, and to play good enough to force playoff, and win a playoff, is pretty impressive. This is a situation you can’t prepare for, and for two freshmen and a sophomore to perform under that pressure is remarkable.”
After waiting more than an hour after knowing they were tied for the region title all six players for Greeneville and Dobyns-Bennett teed up together for the high-stakes, head-to-head playoff.
By the time they got the green it looked like the Lady Indians might have the advantage when Aliezah Robinson was only golfer to reach the green in regulation. Greeneville’s Brylee Catron was just off the green in the short grass for her third shot, but a precise chip put her within four feet.
Catron calmy rolled in her par putt, while Robinson left her fourth shot within two inches of the cup, a distance that ultimately proved decisive. Greeneville’s Kamryn Renner shot a six on the hole, as did Dobyns-Bennett’s Caroline Smith. That gave Greeneville a 10 and Dobyns-Bennett an 11, and one hole was enough to decide the playoff.
“Brylee has worked as hard as anyone I have ever seen over a two-year span to improve her game,” Hale said. “For her to give herself that opportunity today, and to be successful with it, was really pleasing to see. It was great see her capitalize on that moment.”
Robinson shot an even-par 72 to claim the individual region championship on Wednesday and she will also compete in the state tournament.
Where Greeneville stood out among the field at Ridgefields was in its depth. Catron shot an 83 to finish second overall, Kylee Renner shot an 84 to place third overall and Kamryn Renner shot an 85 to finish fourth overall. Had the playoff turned in Dobyns-Bennett’s favor all three would have made the state tournament field as individuals.
According to Hale the daily competition between those three young golfers has made each of them better, and ultimately played a key role in their state tournament berth.
“All three of them are so competitive with each other,” Hale said. “For much of the season we have had only a match or two where someone else could push them, so they compete with each other. They don’t want to be third among each other, they each want to win every single match. That is such an advantage for our team. Every day in practice, every match, they are competing with each other. There are some matches in the season we might be winning by 50 strokes, but they are focused on being the top score and that makes them all so much better.”
Hale also pointed the key contributions of two new assistant coaches on the Greene Devils’ staff. Over the offseason Hale added Sasha Catron and Todd Ricker to the roster. Both are accomplished golfers and accomplished golf instructors who Hale thinks can take the Greene Devils’ program to a new level. And if Wednesday was any indication that instruction is already paying dividends.
“They have been an amazing additions to our program. Sasha has been willing help out since I first took over the team, but I told him with some things at school I would need more help this year and he got Todd Ricker on board as well,” Hale said. “Those guys are not just two of the best golf instructors in Greeneville, they are two of the best in Tennessee. That has put our golf program in a great position for the foreseeable future. It’s a great opportunity for kids at Greeneville High School to learn from those guys. We have already seen the results. I know golf, I can help kids some, but they are true instructors and can really teach the kids.”
Cocke County’s Jeslyn Suwardika (86) and Science Hill’s Cassidy Mullins (86) also advanced to the state tournament as individuals.
The Class AA State Tournament will be held on October 10-11 at Sevierville Golf Club in Sevierville.
Catron qualified for the state tournament as an individual a year ago and the Lady Devils played in a tournament at Sevierville Golf Club earlier this season. Hale is hopeful that the experience on the course will help his squad as it prepares for next week’s action.
“These girls have played a lot of golf, they just can’t let the moment get to them,” Hale said. “I think it obviously helps Brylee having played in the tournament before, and she can help the other two know what to expect. I did make sure to schedule a match there earlier in the season so they know at least nine holes, and they are familiar with part of the course. I think that can be an important advantage.”
In the boys tournament Science Hill shot a 309 to claim the Region 1-AA team championship. West Ridge’s Wyatt Cochran shot a 69 and won a one-hole playoff to claim the individual region championship.
Declan McHeely of Tennessee High (73) and Elizabethton’s Bryson Hardin (75) advanced to state as individual’s as well.
Greeneville’s Bryce Guinn had a good showing with a 79 on Wednesday, but he saw his season come to an end.
