Jackson County senior Colin Hubbard shot his best round of the season last week, carding a 39 through 9-holes at Double Oaks Country Club to win the low medalist honors at the Jackson County Golf Championship. He was the only player to break 40, though his fellow senior teammates Colton Standridge (40), Kyle Daniel (40) and Thomas Whitley (41) certainly tried.
Standridge, in fact, was on target to achieve a 38 but shot 2-over par, or double-bogey, on the last hole to finish with 40.
The Panthers easily combined for the team title with their 160 total score. Jefferson (198) and East Jackson (198) tied for second. Commerce (203) finished last.
Their marks were good enough to continue the Panthers’ uninterrupted winning streak. The JCCHS boys’ team has captured the county championship every year since the event started in 2010.
“Our top two (golfers) did not play their very best, but the other four guys really picked it up and did a good job,” JCCHS coach Warren Standridge said. “Colin played really, really well, probably one of his best rounds of the year.”
While junior York Delloyd and freshman Anthony Whobrey, typically JCCHS’ no. 1 and no. 2 players, struggled a bit, the team’s experience prevailed.
The leading four players pushed through the challenges, which included aerated and unsmooth putting greens.
“We are probably seven or eight deep right now and it is really paying off for us where you don’t always have to rely on your top two guys,” Standridge said. “The kids really rallied around each other. Most of them are seniors. They’ve learned after four years how to become team. You never know who for us is going to be low medalist or lowest in scoring because they are all playing really well right now.”
While the day belonged to Hubbard, who is pursuing a college scholarship in the sport, Standridge praised all the seniors who’ve learned how to handle tough rounds in a way that does not sour a round, or a season for that matter.
This year, the leaders have also mentored younger players who are just learning the ins and outs of competitive high school golf.
As an immediate test of their mettle, the veteran Panthers followed-up the county championship Wednesday with a rematch against Franklin County Thursday at JCCHS’ home course, the Traditions.
Earlier this season, Franklin County stung the Panthers (14-1), serving JCCHS with its only regular season loss.
But last week, on the heels of the championship, Jackson County triumphed over Franklin by 21 shots. East Jackson also played in the tri-meet and placed third overall.
Whitley, who recently returned to the lineup after a wrist injury, was the low medalist, carding an even-par 36.
“The kids were really fired up,” Standridge said. “That says a lot about our kids and our character and how focused they were in that match.”
The trick now, the coach said, is saving their absolute best for last. He believes the weather setbacks earlier in the season may have ended up helping his team by stalling their progress so that the team’s is primed for the region tournament and, hopefully, the sectional and state tournaments to follow.
“The past couple of years, I think we’ve peaked a little early,” Standridge said. “This year (everything) might fall just right for us.”
COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP BOYS’ RESULTS
Overall—first, Jackson County (160); tie for second, Jefferson High School (198), East Jackson (198); Commerce (203).
Individual—JHS, Daniel Kimmel (45), Eli Griffin (50), Jonathan Williams (54) and Connor Paul (49); CHS, Jake Turpin (47), Jonathan Book (46), Andrew Lathem (59) and Wesley Counts (51); EJCHS, Nathan Crumley (43), Logan Ivester (48), Spencer Davis (51) and Jake Golob (56).
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.