Story and Photos by Rusty Ellis and Michael Lindsay
The Cumberland Plateau will be well represented at the TSSAA state golf tournament next week in Sevierville as multiple area teams and individuals qualified.
The Cookeville Cavalier and Lady Cavs golf teams are both headed to Sevierville after winning the Region 4AA Tournaments at the Golden Eagle Golf Club on Monday.
The Cavaliers paced the boys teams with a score of 289, led by overall leader Joseph Agee’s 66. Poston Bost finished second on the team with a 70, while Brant Kardatzke notched a 76. Parks Fowler rounded out the team with a 77, as Jakob Smith’s 78 was thrown out as the lowest score on the team.
Greenbrier finished in second place with team score of 303, followed by Macon County’s 309.
Individually, Cumberland County’s Jaxon Reed is headed to the state tournament after finishing in fourth place overall with a 69.
On the girls’ side, Daniella Pryor paced the Lady Cavs with a 71, followed by Lexus Julian’s 78. Macon County finished in second as a team after winning a playoff, as they combined for a 168.
State has been the goal for Cookeville head coach Larry Pitts, who was pleased as a whole with how his team looked.
“I was super proud of everybody,” Pitts said. “We didn’t have to do anything special, we just needed to come out and do what we’ve been doing…anytime you can get in the 70s, it’s good news.”
Building self-confidence is something Pitts thinks his team can build on heading into the state tournament.
“They see that they can play with these other (teams),” Pitts said. “Self-confidence is a big thing. Everyone doubts themselves at times, but once you get a taste of playing with the better players, you know you just need to work a little harder…that’s what they’ve done from last year to now.”
Agee has had the expectation of being at this point all year, and now the senior says it’s his goal to win.
“Going into this state tournament, the expectation is to win,” Agee said. “Just building on last year’s top-five performance, I think I can go in, finish well and win…that’s the goal, to go out and execute.”
Macon County’s Maddox Crowder qualifies for state as an individual with a 69 (-1). In the girls tournament, Warren County’s Lauren Slatten shot a 69 to qualify for state.
The Class AA State Tournament is set to take place on Oct. 6-7 at Sevierville Golf Club.
At the Region 4A Tournament, Upperman’s boys finished in first place with a score of 338, led by Braden Perry’s 80. Andrew Ramsey finished with an 83, and Aiden Perry shot an 84. Braiden Reich rounded out the team with an 86.
Monterey finished in second with a 358, led by Landon Raines’ 79 which was good for first-place individually.
Pickett County’s girls finished in first place on the other side, shooting a 187 as a team. Kaycee Ludick shot a 90, while Emma Buck finished with a 97.
Upperman’s girls finished in second place with a 188, just a stroke out of first place. Their top finisher was Sydney Rogers with 89, good for third-place overall.
Individually, Gordonsville’s Sophie Linder shot a 65 to finish in first place and clinch a spot at state. Jackson County’s Abigail Scoggins shot an 81 to finish in second place ahead of Rogers.
More content on the region tournament coming to Uppercumberlandreporter.com.
