TSSAA postseason golf continues this week

GPS golfer Hannah Prescott, shown competing in the City Prep tournament, has teamed with senior classmante McKenzie Frizzell to form a formidable duo. The Bruisers will seek a state tournament berth today in the Division II-AA East/Middle Region tournament.
GPS golfer Hannah Prescott, shown competing in the City Prep tournament, has teamed with senior classmante McKenzie Frizzell to form a formidable duo. The Bruisers will seek a state tournament berth today in the Division II-AA East/Middle Region tournament.

POSTSEASON PLAY

Division II-AA East/Middle Region tournament At The Bear Trace at Tims Ford in WinchesterToday’s tee times (All times EDT)Legend: Baylor (B); GPS; McCallie (M).Local boys, No. 1: 10 a.m. — Nathan Webb (B); 10:10 — Jacob Levine (M), Joe Reilly (B); 10:30 — Jesse Felker (M), Sheldon McKnight (B); 10:40 — Jack Billups (M); 10:50 — Hayden Hunneke (B); 11 — Jake Allstun (M); 11:10 — Sam Marshall (B); 11:20 — Joe Carter (M).Local girls, No. 10: 10 a.m. — Preslee Yoder (B); 10:10 — Kelsey Hodge (B); 10:20 — Kyndall Shamblin (B); 10:30 — Gracie Spence (GPS); 10:40 — Hannah Prescott (GPS); 10:50 — McKenzie Frizzell (GPS).Large Class state tournament at WillowBrook in ManchesterTuesday’s tee times (All times EDT)Legend: Bradley Central (BC); Cleveland (C); Walker Valley (WV).Local boys, No. 10: 10 a.m. — David Dansby (WV); 10:10 — Nick McCracken (WV); 10:20 — Parker Gray (WV); 10:30 — Dalton Sutton (WV); 10:40 — Cade Puryear (WV); 10:50 — Gage Brakebill (BC); 11 — Drew Linkous (C).Local girls, No. 1: 9:30 a.m. — Rheagan Hall (C).

The state tournament fates for the golfers from Baylor, GPS and McCallie will be determined today when those three teams compete with their midstate counterparts in the TSSAA Division II-AA East/Middle Region tournament at The Bear Trace at Tims Ford in Winchester.

The first tee times are scheduled at 10 a.m. EDT. The boys will begin on No. 1 and the girls will start on No. 10.

The boys' and girls' teams placing in the top four will qualify for the state tournament Oct. 9-10 at WillowBrook in Manchester. The top three finishing boys and girls not on those teams also move on to the state tournament as individuals.

Historically, there have almost always been teams that were heavy favorites on the girls' side, but Baylor coach Gary Partrick said that is not the case this season.

photo GPS golfer Hannah Prescott, shown competing in the City Prep tournament, has teamed with senior classmante McKenzie Frizzell to form a formidable duo. The Bruisers will seek a state tournament berth today in the Division II-AA East/Middle Region tournament.
photo Hayden Hunneke eyes the result of one of his shots in last month's City Prep golf tournament. Today the senior will try to help Baylor earn a return trip to the Division II-AA state tournament as the Red Raiders compete in the East/Middle Region tournament at The Bear Trace at Tims Ford.

"There are probably seven teams that shoot anywhere between 155 and 163," said Partrick, who was including his team and GPS. "You could finish first (today), or you could finish seventh. That's never been the case. It's not top-heavy. Everybody has got somebody that can shoot 72 or 75, and they have somebody who can shoot in the low 80s."

Youthful Kyndall Shamblin has led the way this season for Baylor. Freshman Kelsey Hodge has been counted on for support.

"I'm a little bit concerned going in depending on an eighth-grader and a ninth-grader," Partrick said. "We'll see how they react on that stage. Hopefully the stage won't bother us and we'll perform."

GPS is led by seniors McKenzie Frizzell and Hannah Prescott.

Baylor and McCallie are expected to be among the boys' teams with good opportunities to advance to state, but so are Brentwood Academy, Father Ryan and Montgomery Bell Academy.

Junior Jake Allstun has set the pace for the Blue Tornado, but he's had plenty of help.

"We haven't shot over 300 all year," said McCallie coach Rob Riddle, who also coaches GPS. "We've kept it between 290 and 299 the whole season."

The hard part for Riddle may have been deciding which five boys would play. Joining Allstun are juniors Jesse Felker and Jacob Levine, sophomore Jack Billups and freshman Joe Carter.

"Everybody has contributed on this team," Riddle said.

The Red Raiders' leaders are seniors Sam Marshall and Hayden Hunneke.

"They've pressed a little bit because so many of our other golfers are inexperienced," Partrick said. "Their averages aren't quite where they want it, but their game is good enough. They're going to have to play well. It'll come down to putting. We've had a good year, but you always want it to be better."

Large Class state

On Tuesday at WillowBrook, Walker Valley's boys will make their third consecutive appearance at state and are seeking a better fate than the previous two. They finished fifth in 2015 and seventh last year.

Seniors Cade Puryear, Parker Gray and Nick McCracken lead the cause. Puryear won the District 5 and Region 3 tournaments during the past two weeks, Gray was the City Prep champion last month - after being runner-up in that tournament a year ago - and McCracken was a region medalist as a sophomore.

Dalton Sutton, a transfer, has been a pleasant addition for the Mustangs. He won the District 5 and Region 3 tournaments in Class A/AA last year, when he was at Silverdale Baptist Academy, and enters today's round coming off a third-place region finish.

Bradley Central's Gage Brakebill and Cleveland's Drew Linkous are local boys who qualified as individuals.

One girl from the Chattanooga area qualified, and she comes in with plenty of qualifications.

Cleveland's Rheagan Hall was individual champion in the City Prep, district and region tournaments this season, and she'll be competing in her fourth state tournament. Her best finish was last year, when she ended up eighth.

Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him on Twitter @KelleySmiddie.

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