Walker Valley's Dylan Lillard hits his tee shot at No. 13 during Monday's Region 3-AAA golf tournament at Bear Trace at Harrison Bay. He shot a 74 and qualified for next week's state tournament in Manchester.Dylan Lillard could be a little lonely next week during the Class AAA state golf tournament.
Lillard, a junior at Walker Valley, was the only boy from District 5 to advance to the state event from the Region 3-AAA tournament Monday at Bear Trace at Harrison Bay.
"I won't know anybody up there," said Lillard, who earned one of four spots reserved for individuals not on the advancing team. "It will be lonely."
Lillard shot a 2-over-par 74 and placed fourth in the medalist race Monday. Will Brooks of Cookevile was the medalist and helped his team earn the region championship with a total of 307. Warren County came in second at 314, followed by East Hamilton in third at 319. Walker Valley and McMinn County tied for fourth at 324.
"I kept grinding today," Brooks said. "I kept telling myself, 'Every shot counts.' That's what kept me going."
Cleveland girls Heidi Barringer and Rheagan Hall also advanced as individuals to the state tournament beginning next Tuesday at Manchester's Willowbrook Golf Course.
Warren County won the girls' team title with a 151, including a 1-over 73 from medalist Hannah Powell. Barringer, a senior, shot 76 and Hall, a freshman, shot 77. They were second and third in the medalist race, Hall taking third in a three-hole sudden-death playoff.
Olivia Williams of Bradley Central also advanced with her 78 on Monday.
"We accomplished something cool by coming back from that playoff loss to Walker Valley last week when we didn't play our best," Barringer said of herself and Hall. "But we got it together today. State is going to feel like a team event because we're both there."
They'll stay in the hotel and share meals together as well as a practice round Monday.
"They've played really well all year," Cleveland coach Nick Cantrell said. "I don't know if in my seven years that I've seen two girls qualify and not go as a team. It will be different.
"They're used to playing and wondering what the other is doing. It's unique to have two there, but they're really playing against each other."
Barringer will be playing in the state tournament for a second straight year. She shot a disappointing 58 on her first nine holes last year.
"I didn't think I was that nervous, but somehow my nerves affected my muscles on my first nine," Barringer said. "I didn't shoot 58 in sixth grade."
She'll use her experience to help Hall on Monday, when the ninth-grader sees the course for the first time. Then again, Hall has dealt with nerves few freshmen have experienced. She advanced to the finals of the national Drive, Chip and Putt competition last year and competed on the grounds of Augusta National with the GolfChannel showing her live.
"They both get to experience state," Cantrell said. "For Heidi to do it as a senior is great for her, and for Rheagan to do it as a freshman means the future is bright for her."
Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6484. Follow him at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP.