Prep golfers shoot for state tourney

By Wes Holtsclaw
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
wholtsclaw@starhq.com

     It was a dreaded afternoon for many local golfers at the Region 1 Golf Tournament held at River's Trace Golf Course in Greeneville, but it was a sweet day for Happy Valley's Dustin White.
     White, tying for fourth in the individual competition, won a playoff hole over University High's Russell Ingram to earn a berth in the state golf tournament.
     "I started off really good hitting greens and fairways," said White, who shot a 78 with a birdie on the playoff hole. "I began to make pars, and I knew I needed to make some shots when I started up the back nine."
     "I went into the playoffs with Russell Ingram and I got a birdie. I really wasn't that confident on the last hole, because I had to make a two putt, but Iucked up with the birdie."
     White was pleased with this year's efforts compared to last season.
     "Last year, I didn't think I could come close this year, but I gutted it out and took it."
     David Vick from Gatlinburg-Pittman took the championship with a 72, followed by Sullivan North's T. J. Wilson and his 75. South Greene's Boddie Bible played a strong 77 on the evening.
     Johnson County's Matt Cornett finished sixth with his 79 performance on the day, while Elizabethton's Eric Carter and Daniel Sochalski played an 80 and 81.
     South Greene took the team award with a strong 329. Aside from Bible, the Rebels had strong games from Jake Scheffers (82), James Pierce (84), and Brandon Rohr (86).
     Only five strokes away was University High, who came in second with a 335. District Co-Champion Kyle Kirwin played an 82, while Drew Harrell (91) and Van Roberts (84) completed the line-up.
     Elizabethton placed third with a 337, with Jered Collins (89) and Bradley Brown (87) contributing to their cause.
     On the girl's front, University High's Rachel Ingram outplayed most of the gentlemen on the circuit with a 78 to dominate the female round.
     Chuckey-Doak (345), Sullivan Central (346), and Pigeon Forge (349) rounded out the team standings on the boy's side.
     Jay Frank White's Allen Tuttle pulled in an 86, and Rutledge's Jordan Harris delivered an 87 to round out the individual rankings.