Cherokees nip Cleveland

Friday, January 1, 1904

Coach Jerry Quirk shook his head as he added the scores of his golfers Tuesday at Cleveland Country Club.

The Cherokees' total of 159 clipped Cleveland by two shots.

"That's the worst we've shot on nine holes all year," Quirk said. "Then again, this isn't an easy course."

Quirk, Cleveland coach Nick Cantrell and coaches across Tennessee are gearing up for tournaments that count the most during the year, including Wednesday's Coffee County Tournament at Willowbrook -- site of the state championships -- and the City Prep Championship next Thursday at Bear Trace at Harrison Bay.

"We play so much golf in a short amount of time and we don't have time to practice," said Quirk, whose team played Monday and Tuesday and will go again today. "It's so much so fast -- as much as four times a week."

Chris Bryant of Cleveland shot a 2-over-par 38 while playing the back nine Tuesday. Four Cherokees shot 41 or better, including Will Thompson and Cody Housley with 39s.

"You want to increase the difficulty of what you're going to see," Quirk said. "I don't know if today we were just worn out."

Cleveland sophomore Heidi Barringer shot 42 for the best girls' score, but McMinn County won the team match 93-101.