By Steve Williams
Halls High’s boys golf team continues to enjoy beating Farragut this season.
The Red Devils’ latest victory over their old nemesis also took place on the Admirals’ home course at Fox Den Country Club.
Alex Hodge, Halls’ lone senior, and Anthony Basilio, one of four juniors, each shot a three-over-par 39 to lead Thursday’s win.
Longtime coach Bill Warren’s Red Devils totaled 159 to Farragut’s 167. Maryville (171) and Lenoir City (180) completed the team scoring.
Cameron Page, a junior who transferred to Farragut from Florida this summer, took medalist honors with a 35. Teammate Steven Haremski had a 38.
While Farragut had the top two individual scorers, Halls won with balanced scoring and depth.
Ryan Hall, a junior who has committed to the University of South Carolina, came within a foot of scoring an eagle on his final hole, the uphill No. 3. He tapped in for a birdie to finish with a 40. MTSU commit Jake Hall posted a 41.
“It’s always special when we play Farragut because they’re the ones who put us out of our region the past couple years,” said Halls’ Will Collins, who shot a 43. “Anytime we can play Farragut, especially at their home course, it’s special. We like to beat them every time we can.”
Prior to Thursday’s match, Halls had defeated Farragut this season en route to winning the PrepXtra Masters at Tennessee National Golf Club in Loudon.
“The Tennessee National is where we’re having the region tournament (2-AAA) this year, and we got a win there, so that was big,” said Collins. “That’s where it’ll end up mattering the most.”
Although Halls won, Collins said, “It was not our best day. A lot of us didn’t keep it in the fairway, which is kind of key out here. It’s a tight golf course, especially with the greens the way they are. You really can’t hit a lot of shots out of the rough and expect them to stop.”
Collins said his team overcame its accuracy issues by “just grindin’.”
In girls’ play, Farragut prevailed with a two-player total of 85. Halls and Maryville tied at 90 and Lenoir City totaled 94.
Farragut’s Domitille Chambon and Halls’ Shelby Liford each shot 42 to share medalist honors. The Lady Admirals’ Emily Keeling had a 43.
