Pioneer golf team looking good
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Not only the immediate future, which includes the upcoming District 7-AAA tournament, but the distant future of upcoming seasons as well.
The Pioneers defended their home course honorably Tuesday, taking second place out of a tough 21-team field at the 2003 CEO Roundtable High School Invitational Tournament.
“This was a great day for our guys,” said longtime WCHS coach Keith Maxwell, “and a great day for Warren County Golf.”
Led by sophomore Alex Self, who fired a four-over par 75, the Pioneers finished with a team total of 315.
Freshman Andrew Brock carded a 76, Cody Pryor added an 80 and Cody Durham shot an 84 to add to the team’s final score. Josh Eckart finished with an 87, but as the highest score his total wasn’t counted toward the team’s final tally.
The Pioneers finished three strokes ahead of the tournament’s third-place team, Tullahoma High School, but were well short of Knoxville Farragut, which dominated the field with a team score of 299.
Farragut had a pair of golfers involved in a four-way tie for the boys’ individual medal, as Brad Mecca and Brandon Bunn each shot a 73, tying Shelbyville’s Brett Rogers and Brentwood’s Cameron Lawrence. Rhea County’s Tyler Lane won the boys’ individual title with a two-under par 70.
While they were several strokes behind the team champion, Maxwell was especially pleased with the fact his team fared better than any other squad in District 7-AAA.
Cookeville and Murfreesboro Siegel were the closest district foes behind the Pioneers, finishing with scores of 321 and 323, respectively. Oakland came in with a 330 for eighth place, Riverdale was in 10th with a 332, White County had a 356 for 17th place and Blackman was 19th with a 360.
The Pioneer coach said with the team’s district tournament coming up Sept. 15, now is the time for his Pioneers to be performing at their best.
“We’re beginning to turn it on,” he said. “It looks like the boys are beginning to gel at the right time.”
On the girls’ side, the Lady Pioneers finished with a 183, good enough for sixth place in an 11-team field.
Lauren Bewick led the way for WCHS with a 91, while Tori Ritz carded a 92 and Allison George had a 96. The lowest two scores from each girls’ team were used to make up the team’s score.
Once again it was Knoxville Farragut who took home the team title, turning in a 153. Brentwood was second with a 162, while Oakland had a 173 for third place.
Other District 7-AAA teams participating in the girls’ tournament included Blackman, which took fourth with a 174, and Cookeville, who had a 175 for fifth place. Riverdale’s Diana Rickey was the sole representative of her team, and finished with a 95.
PHOTOS INFO:
The WCHS boys golf team finished second in a tough 21-team field at Tuesday’s CEO Roundtable High School Invitational. Far right, Andrew Brock tees off on No. 10. Above, WCHS coach Keith Maxwell, left, and players Cody Pryor, Alex Self, Brock and Josh Eckart are presented with their trophy by CEO Roundtable representative Dennis Ringgenberg. At right, the Lady Pioneers’ Tori Ritz follows her tee shot. Warren County’s girls took sixth place. (Rob Nunley photos)