Ritz’s hole-in-one highlights tourney: Lady Pioneers take third at home event
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Ritz, a freshman, recorded a hole-in-one on the seventh hole at the McMinnville Country Club, holing out from 93 yards with a pitching wedge during the annual WCHS Invitational.
“I pulled out a pitching wedge, and just hit a good smooth shot,” Ritz said. “It took one bounce, about a foot away from the hole, and rolled right in.
“I was completely shocked. I heard everybody cheering, and it was at that point I realized the ball had went in the hole. It was something I’ll always remember.”
Ritz led the Lady Pioneers to a third-place finish in the annual tournament, which featured 21 boys teams and 13 girls squads.
Warren County’s girls came in with a team score of 176 thanks to Ritz’s 84 and a score of 92 from Allison George. Racheal Cotten came in with a 94, but in high school girls’ golf only the top two scores from each team are counted toward the team score.
“The girls’ side was very exciting, especially with two teams going to a playoff,” said WCHS coach Keith Maxwell. “Our girls played a pretty solid round of golf, and I’m very excited and happy for Tori about getting her first hole-in-one.”
Brentwood and Farragut tied for first place among the girls’ teams, and went to a sudden-death playoff to determine the championship.
Individually, Coffee County’s Holly Tritschler took first with a 78, while Crossville’s Jillian Jones and Oakland’s Leigh Wilkins tied for second, with each girl carding an 80.
On the boys’ side, Oakland High School took first place in a narrow race, finishing with a team total of 296. Tullahoma took second, coming in with a 297.
Individually, Marshall County’s Mitch Brock came away with first place overall with a 67. Oakland’s Spencer Provow tied with Tullahoma’s Cody Hale and Dustin Lynch for second after all three came in with scores of 72.
Warren County had to settle for 12th place, with Alex Guthrie’s 82 leading the way. Cody Durham had an 83, Cody Pryor carded an 84 and Alex Self shot a 90. Cameron Gonder’s score was not recorded, and was issued a disqualification after accidentally playing the wrong ball on the 16th hole.
Despite the hot weather, Maxwell noted a cool breeze and exciting competition from a strong field made for a good day on the course.
“The tournament went very smoothly, and we had a good field,” he said. “We had to turn away teams, just like we have to every year, and any time you have to turn people down that want to play, you know you’ve got a pretty good tournament.
“I’d especially like to thank the McMinnville Country Club and their staff for all the hard work they do to help us host this tournament every year.”
Maxwell also wanted to express his appreciation to the many local businesses and individuals who helped sponsor this year’s tournament.
Sponsors included: Willmore Ford, Evelyn Self, Dr Pepper, Greenwood Nursery, Norment Barnes Insurance, Dr. Rene Del Valle, First National Bank, Diamond Classics, McMinnville Electric, Apex Construction, Dr. Kent Bewick, Shelton Motor Co., Totherow, Haile and Welch, Dr. Jimmy Woodlee, Warren Mechanical Contractors, Rufus Gonder CPA, Cotten Warehouse, Dr. Robert Jones DDS, Dr. Stanley Martin OD, Morrison Tool and Die, Todd Wood Nursery, Custom Finance, Silver Scissors, Security Federal, Morrison Tool and Vault, Womack Printing, Dr. Jeff McKinley and Exchange Furniture.