BEAN STATION – Friday was a big day on the links for Greeneville High School as both the boys and girls golf teams won Region 1-A championships and qualified for the Class A State Tournament.
It is the fourth time in program history and first time since 2009 that both Greeneville golf team have advanced to the state tournament in the same year. The Greene Devils also did it in 1984 and 1985.
“I’m really proud of every one of them,” Greeneville coach Todd Ricker said. “A couple of them got off to a rough start, but they grinded out and fought through. I couldn’t be more proud. Our goal at the beginning of the year was to get two teams to state, and now we’ve done it.”
For the Greeneville boys it is their first appearance in the state tournament as a team since 2010, and after getting edged out by Elizabethton in last year’s region tournament it was rewarding for Ricker to see his team claim gold on Friday.
“We just had to make sure we didn’t make today bigger than it was. We experienced that last year and we grew from that,” Ricker said. “It means everything to see these boys make it to state. They have worked their butts off all year and they have grown as a team. They are peaking here toward the end, and that is when you want to do it.”
The Greene Devils have worked hard in the offseason and the key to their success has been their balance throughout the lineup. That showed up again on Friday at Clinchview Golf Club when all five Devils shot between 76-80.
Nathan Howlett led the way for Greeneville with a 76, which was good enough for fourth-place as an individual. Carson Waters and Andrew England each had a 77 and Bryson Ricker shot a 79 for Greeneville’s team score of 309. Landon Alridge shot an 80.
“It’s huge that they are all playing well right now,” Ricker said. “We’ve played 16 rounds of golf in the last two weeks and every one has broken 80. That is pretty impressive. They just have to stay patient and not get ahead of themselves. They need to enjoy where they are and not make the next tournament bigger than it is. But it is a big one and we want to win it.”
Keanan Hankins from South Greene shot a one-under par 71 on Friday to finish second overall and earned an individual spot in the Class A State Tournament. For Hankins good putting and an even keeled approach were the keys to going low.
“I played pretty good. I felt like a putted it pretty good, that was the key. It feels great to be going to state. I’m pretty excited,” Hankins said.
Grainger’s Tripp Johnson shot a 68 to take medalist honors and Cumberland Gap’s Carsen Bolinger shot a 75 to finish third. Both advanced to the state tournament.
Grainger finished second as a team with a 314.
South Greene shot a 327 as a team led by Hankins 71. Brennan Gregg shot a 77, Cameron Kinser had a 87 and Mitchell Landers 92.
The Greeneville girls did not have their best stuff on Friday, but they were still the class of the field and claimed their third straight region title.
The Lady Greene Devils shot a 155 as team to outdistance second place by 20 strokes. Kamryn Renner led that effort with a 76 and took home medalist honors. Kylee Renner was second overall with a 79 and Brylee Catron shot an 87.
“I don’t think I played particularly well today. I felt like my score was better than how I hit the ball, but my chipping and putting was pretty good,” Kamryn Renner said. “It means a lot to win today. This is the third year in a row that we’ve won regionals. I’m very proud of us.”
The Lady Greene Devils have more in mind than winning the region championship this year. The defending Class A state champions are looking to repeat, but they know they will need to be at the top of their game to do that.
“It feels great to be going back to state. I’m really excited,” Renner said. “We all three need to practice as much as we can. We need to get down to Sevierville and play the course. But I think knowing that we’ve already been there and done it will help us calm down and just play.”
The Lady Devils have played in the state tournament for the past three season and they hope their familiarity with the course in Sevierville and in the tournament will help them climb the leaderboard once again.
“The camera has been on them all year,” Ricker said. “Everyone is looking at them, everyone is watching. It’s impressive that they have been able to handle that. We’ll put a plan together and get to work on state. You don’t know who it is going be on any day, but you can count it, two of three are going to have a good day and that is so big. I think the big thing as we move forward is focusing on the short game and controlling their emotions.”
The Class A State Tournament will be held at Sevierville Golf Club on October 5-6.
The individual state qualifiers from Friday’s tournament were Volunteer’s Baylyn Rose (84), Seymour’s Hollan Gresham (84) and Gibbs’ Ivey Collins (87).
Chuckey-Doak shot a 199 as a team. Harley Thompson led the way with a 90, Addilyn Boesch had a 109.
