‘Comeback boys’ lift HVA to state crown
By Steve Williams
Comebacks had a lot to do with Hardin Valley Academy’s first TSSAA state golf championship last week.
Eli Glenn, who had to sit out in the region tournament due to a stomach virus, made it back in plenty of time for the Division I Class AA state tournament at the Sevierville Golf Club last Monday and Tuesday and led the Hawks’ 36-hole winning total with a 73-68-141 (3-under par) on the River Course. He tied for third place in the individual scoring.
The Hardin Valley team as a whole battled back from a four-stroke deficit to move past Brentwood in the second round with a 287-284-571 total. Brentwood posted a 283-291-574.
“They continued to fight and came back from five strokes down to win today (Tuesday),” said Head Coach John Williams. “It’s just hard to imagine all the hard work and everything that’s gone into this finally paid off.”
It was HVA’s first trip ever to state.
“Brentwood has a great team,” said Williams. “They won the state last year.”
“Today (second round) I just managed my shots and took advantage of the scoring holes out here and didn’t make any high numbers,” said Glenn, who is committed to Walters State Community College. “I birdied two of the par 5s, which always helps. I birdied a short par 4 and birdied 17.”
“Man, it’s great,” said Conner Williams, the HVA coach’s son, after signing his scorecard. “We’ve got a good group of guys and three seniors, so it’s very nice to go out on a high note.”
When asked if there was anything else he wanted to add, Conner replied: “Not much. We’ve got the best coach out there!”
Sophomore Hunter Mousa turned in a 1-under-par 72-71-143 for Hardin Valley. Williams (71-73) and senior Jacob Sheffield (72-72-144) each shot even par. Arjun Patel, a sophomore, rounded out the scoring with a 72-76-148.
Walker Valley, which was tied with Hardin Valley in second place after the first round, fell to third with a 299 second round and 586 total. The eight-team field also included Station Camp (605), Clarksville (608), Houston (614), Science Hill (625) and Stewarts Creek (675).
Walker Valley’s Cody Walter captured first place in the individual scoring with a 6-under-par 138 (67-71). Bearden’s Charlie Culbertson was runner-up (68-72-140).
Hardin Valley girls contribute to ‘storybook’ finish
Sophomore Addisyn Newman led the Lady Hawks to second place in the Division I Class AA girls state tourney, a notch better than last season’s third-place showing. Newman also was state runner-up in the individual scoring for the second year in a row.
“We have a great group of girls,” said Coach Williams. “They worked really hard and they represent us really well. They’ve got great respect for the game and how they handle themselves on the course.
“They’ve really done a good job of coming back-to-back, which is not easy and then improving on that. Kudos to them for all their hard work.”
Poppy Pewitt of Dickson County shot an even par 140 to edge Newman (72-69-141) by one stroke.
Page High claimed the team title with a 289 total over the two rounds, while Hardin Valley finished with a 301. The Lady Hawks’ Leona Patel contributed an 87-76-163. Teammate Rylee Taylor carded a 165.
“It’s hard enough to get one team to state let alone two, and then to have one win it all and one to finish runner-up is pretty special,” added Williams. “I’m not sure you can draw it up in a storybook, but they did it and I’m really proud of them.”
Farragut’s Harper Holmes was one of three Knox County players who played as an individual, and she tied for 12th with a 156, followed by Lady Admiral Sophia Williams (165) and West’s Reese McMahan (167).
