By Steve Williams
Post-season golf play is underway and sisters Olivia and Ivey Collins led Gibbs to the District 2-A championship on Sept. 21 at the Island Pointe course in Kodak.
Olivia earned medalist honors with an 83 and Ivey shot an 85 for the Lady Eagles’ total of 168.
In the boys’ 2-A tourney, Grainger High won the title with a 317 score and the Grizzlies’ Tripp Johnson was medalist with a 73. Gibbs took second place with a 338 total and Oliver Collins was runner-up with a 75.
There’s a twist to this story, too. Olivia and Oliver are the sophomore twins and Ivey, a junior, is Olivia’s older sister.
The Collins’ family also includes a fourth youngster. Billie is a freshman and she is trying out the sport “a little bit and just getting started,” said her dad Adam last Thursday, with mom Jayla listening.
Their kids first started when they were 10 years old and in the fifth grade.
“We took them over to Halls at the old driving range and bought them some starter clubs,” said their dad. “They just started hitting the golf balls,” but many shots were hooking and that kind of thing.
Then came golf camps, middle school golf and lessons with pro Jason Gandy at Willow Creek.
The age range of the foursome now is 14 through 16 and all four are in home school in Corryton.
The three oldest have really improved since they started. Oliver said his average decreased 10 to 12 shots his sophomore season.
Gibbs coach Keith McElroy said Oliver played well and shot an 81 in Region 2-A play, but the boys’ and girls’ teams both finished third overall and only the top two teams qualified for the state tourney.
“Ivey shot 87 and qualified for state as an individual and Olivia shot 89 just missing out,” said McElroy, who is assisted by Lauryn Zahn. “As a coach I am very proud of all the players, as this is the best finish in the Regionals by both teams since I’ve been a coach at Gibbs. Ivey is the first girl player from Gibbs to reach state in 20 plus years. Golf is going strong at Gibbs.”
Ivey added: “I really appreciate my coaches and my teammates. They really have been very supportive and everything and I’ve really had a good experience playing for Gibbs and it’s just been a great team and great coaches.”
In other TSSAA golf tourney action:
District 4-AA at Gettysvue had a lot of close play as the Hardin Valley and Bearden boys tied for first place with a score of 305. HVA’s Hunter Mousa and Bearden’s John Chapman also tied for medalist honors with a 72.
In girls’ play, Farragut and Hardin Valley also tied for first place with 147 totals. The Lady Hawks’ Addisyn Newman and the Lady Admirals’ Sophia Williams both carded a 70, but Newman was the medalist.
Halls’ boys won the District 3-AA tournament at Beaver Brook with a 299 total. The Red Devils’ Davis Reitz fired a 67 for medalist honors.
Campbell County was the girls’ team winner with a 201 total. Central’s Emma Brosnan and Powell’s Daisy Gentry tied for medalist honors with an 89.
Tyler Stafford’s 70 led CAK to the team championship with a 289 total in the Division II-A East District 1. First Baptist Academy’s Max Green was the medalist with a 66.
Grace Christian earned the girls’ team title with a 167 and was led by medalist Lydia Walker and her 79 round.
FBA boys win Division II-A Region championship
Alex Green fired a 67 to lead First Baptist Academy to the TSSAA Division II-A state tournament.
Maxwell Green added a 69, Luke McGee a 70 and Brady Morris a 70 to the Eagles’ 282 team total. Reed Stokes was fifth with a 78.
Christian Academy of Knoxville also qualified for the state tourney with a 290 team score. Tyler Stafford shot a 72 in the region, Aiden Cooper a 74, Roddy Sturgeon a 72 and Tanner Varney a 72. Ryan Miller is in the Warriors’ fifth spot going into the state.
“Our tourney should be very competitive,” said CAK Coach Donnie Cooper. “FBA is very good. BGA, Jackson Christian and Franklin Christian are all good.”
TSSAA state golf boys’ and girls’ tournaments this year will be held on Nov. 5-6 and 8-9 at the Sevierville Golf Club.
