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Golfers heading to state
Lady Pioneers win regional tournament
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The talk on golf courses across Tennessee this season has been the Warren County High School girls golf team. The Lady Pioneers showed why in the regional tournament at River Watch golf course Thursday.
The Lady Pioneers punched their ticket to the state tournament by winning the Region 3-AAA tournament behind another sensational performance by freshman Hannah Powell.
Powell, recently named the District 6-AAA player of the year, shot 77 to lead Warren County to a tournament victory.
Powell was able to navigate the tough Smithville course to lead the pack for the second straight week. Last week, Powell shot 73 as the top performer in the District 6-AAA tournament at the same course.
Sophomore Saylem Powell was next in line for the Lady Pioneers with 84, giving Warren County a team score of 161. White County came in second at 169, eight strokes behind the Lady Pioneers.
Coach J.W. Holt knew before the season his team could be special. Thursday’s match only confirmed the coach’s thoughts.
“Expectations from the beginning were to make the state tournament. We’ve reached that goal,” said Holt. “I expect a good showing in the state as well. It’s on a course we are very familiar with. I’m expecting good things and so are the girls.”
Junior Brittany Myers shot 85, which didn’t qualify for the Lady Pioneer score. Myers will try to improve her game for the state tournament held in Manchester at Willow Brook golf course Oct. 8-9.
Finishing behind Powell as top scorers in the regional tournament were: Shelby Johnson (White County) 79, Samantha Griffith (Ooltewah) 82, Heidi Barringer (Cleveland) 83 and Anna Cunningham (Cookeville) 84.
The Region 3-AAA tournament was the end of the line for the Pioneer golf team. The Warren County boys failed to qualify for the state tournament as the Pioneers finished fourth out of six teams.
Senior Clayton Myers fell just short of gaining an individual bid as he shot 82 in his final round as a Pioneer. Junior Nicholas Powell, a state qualifier a year ago, was one of three Pioneers to finish with a round of 85. Nick Stern and Houston Wood also shot 85 for Warren County. Freshman Bracton Womack fell just short with 86.
The Pioneers’ team score of 337 was well short of Cookeville, the Region 3-AAA champion. The Cavaliers shot 317 as a team.
Coach Holt was proud of the way his Pioneers played this season and believes the talent returning could push the program to new heights next year.
“We really felt good going into the regional tournament after a good performance at the district tournament. Unfortunately, we picked a bad day to have off games,” said Holt. “I like the way the boys played this season and I think we have some good players coming back. With some work in the offseason, we should be in good shape going into next season.”
The Lady Pioneers will use next week to prepare for the state tournament. Teams and individuals will be playing two 18-hole rounds at Willow Brook - a course where the Warren County girls team placed second in a tournament earlier this season.