Hawks earn first state tourney berth
By Steve Williams
The Hardin Valley Academy boys’ golf team made history last week by qualifying for the TSSAA state tournament for the first time.
Jake Sheffield, a senior and a gifted player throughout his high school career, led the way for the Hawks on a sun-splashed Monday at the Beaver Brook Country Club as he fired a four under par 66. His 31-35 round also earned him top individual honors.
The HVA foursome combined for a team total of 286, with Conner Williams and Arjun Patel each adding a 73 on the up-and-down par 70 course. Hunter Mousa was close behind at 74.
Hardin Valley finished eight strokes better than runner-up Maryville (294).
Coach John Williams was pleased with the victory and looking forward to the Division I Class AA state tourney, which starts today at Sevierville with the first of two 18-hole rounds.
“I’m really proud of them,” said Williams. “They’ve worked hard. I’ve had a chance to coach most of them since they were in sixth grade. It’s been a long journey and this team has been really special.”
The HVA coach noted that his team started the year really strong and broke the 5Star Preps’ scoring record and also the Mike Mills Morristown Invitational scoring record.
“They’ve played really, really well. I’m super proud of them.”
Williams also pointed out the Hawks were without one of their players at the region as Eli Glenn had to withdraw because of illness, but they were able to prevail with four players.
“I just couldn’t be prouder of how they hung in there and their hard work,” said Williams. “It shows up today on the scorecard, but this has been done with all their hard work over the spring and summer to get us here.”
Sheffield said Hardin Valley’s goal was to get to state, “but now I think the goal is to win state.”
Jake said he had a “great round” at the region and described it as “pretty stress free for the most part. I had two bogies and six birdies. But I hit a lot of greens and gave myself a lot of chances. And that’s kind of what you’ve got to do out here. I was definitely happy with how I executed it.”
Only one team earned a state berth, but the three players with best individual scores also advanced. That included Maryville’s Ray Rebell (69), Bearden’s Charlie Culbertson (70) and Maryville’s Leo Huddleston (70).
Halls (304), led by Davis Reitz’s 72, placed third in the team scoring and Bearden (306) was fourth, followed by Central (326) and Campbell County (334).
Hardin Valley girls make second straight trip to state
Addisyn Newman got off to a great start with a 34-40-74 and the Lady Hawks won the Division I Region 2-AA with a 157 total, 12 strokes ahead of Farragut (169). HVA’s Rylee Taylor contributed an 83.
The Lady Admirals’ Sophia Williams shot an 82 to earn the first individual medal and a state berth. West’s Reese McMahan (86) and Farragut’s Harper Holmes (87) also qualified for state.
William Blount finished third in team scoring with a 202, followed by Powell (211) and Campbell County (255).
