If putts start falling for the Madison County golf team, April could be a much smoother experience for the Red Raiders on the links.
But right now, the team is still trying to shave strokes.
“All of them are striking the ball really well,” coach Chris Smith said. “The big thing is the short game, shots from 100 yards in.”
Especially putting, which plagued Madison County again Monday. But, despite the trouble on the greens, the Red Raiders managed to beat Franklin County 180-184 at Highland Walk for their secondstraight win in nine-hole competiton.
Jacob Fleming fired a 43, followed by Lee Morgan (45), Zach Rhoden (46) and Colton Phillips (46).
“We’d get on the green and three-putt … some of the greens were slow, some of them were fast, and that created some problems,” Smith said.
The team hopes to sharpen its game over the next three weeks as it prepares for the April 20 region tournament, which is an 18-hole event at The Orchard in Clarkesville.
The Red Raiders got a taste of a full round of golf Saturday as they hosted their 18-hole tournament at Sunrise Golf Course.
Just one Madison County player broke 90 the Red Raiders finished seventh out of nine varsity teams.
Colton Phillips led Madison County with an 86, good for 21st place in the 58-player field. The team finished with a collective score of 358.
Colton was followed by his brother Cody Phillips (who aced hole number five during the practice round) with a 90.
Rounding out the scoring were Rhoden and Crouse, who both carded rounds of 91.
Fleming shot a 96, but his score didn’t count.
Madison County finished behind two region foes: Habersham Central, which won the tournament with a 318, and Heritage, which finished fourth with a 328.
The Red Raiders did shoot better than one region 8-AAAA team, Clarke Central (390).
Madison County also finished ahead of Athens Academy (383).
The Red Raiders fielded a junior varsity team, which finished 10th.
This was the team’s second 18-hole event of the season. Madison County shot a 373 at Apple Mountain on March 6.
Before the tournament, Madison County shot a 175 last Wednesday (March 24) in a victory over Athens Christian (209) and East Jackson (222).
Rhoden and Crouse led the Red Raiders with rounds of 43, Colton Philips added a 44 and Fleming carded a 45.
Cody Philips (46) and Morgan (46) also played, but their scores were dropped.
