Walker Valley advanced to the AAA boys’ state golf tournament next week by winning the Region 3 tournament Monday at Bear Trace at Cumberland Mountain.

The Mustangs combined to shoot a 309, edging Cleveland by three strokes and third-place Soddy-Daisy by 20, before daylight disappeared.

“There was enough light for everybody to finish, but we had to use flashlights at the scorer’s table,” said Cumberland County coach Randy Herring, who acted as tournament director. “That’s why we’ll have an individual playoff tomorrow.”

Cumberland County senior Cody King earned medalist honors by shooting an even-par 72 and advanced to the state tournament as an individual. Tanner Garland of Cleveland finished second with a 76 and also advanced.

The sudden-death playoff at Chatata Valley will be among three golfers for two spots in the state tournament. Tyler Goza of Cleveland, Ryne Thompson of McMinn County and Zach Hester of Soddy-Daisy each shot 77.

King ensured his spot in the state event next Tuesday and Wednesday at Old Fort Golf Course in Murfreesboro by shooting a 33 on the front and holding on for a 39 on the back. He made six birdies, two bogeys and two double-bogeys in his round.

“I didn’t get to see hardly any of it, but when he made the turn, I thought that if he shot a 38 on the back he’d have a good chance to make state,” Herring said. “I never really thought he had a shot at medalist. Maybe I figured some of the other top players were playing better than they were.”

Herring said King is the first Cumberland County golfer to reach the state playoffs since Micah McShan did so in 2005, and King is the first region medalist in his seven years associated with the team.

“He’s been up and down this season, but he had been striking the ball well the last few days,” Herring said. “You could just see that he felt good about what he was doing.”