Carly Swabe is well on her way to accomplishing her senior-season goal — getting to the golf state tournament.
Swabe, a Sequoyah High School senior, accomplished the first step in her journey to the tourney by winning the District 5-A/AA championship Monday at Chatata Valley in Cleveland with an 83.
“I just shrugged off bad holes, kept my head on straight the whole time,” Swabe said. “I didn’t think about it too much.”
Swabe toppled McMinn Central junior Mattie Cardin, who had a chance to win until a triple-bogey on No. 17.
“On the front nine, I played the best I’ve played in a long time,” Cardin said. “Other than that one hole, I feel that I played very well.”
McMinn Central junior Mattie Cardin drives her tee shot down the 18th fairway at Chatata Valley Golf Club during the District 5-A/AA tournament Monday. Cardin finished runner-up in the medalist race.The top three girls’ teams – Sequoyah at 173, Boyd-Buchanan at 182 and Silverdale Baptist Academy 190 – advanced to the Region 3-A/AA tournament Thursday at the Bear Trace at Harrison Bay. The top three boys’ teams advanced as well.
The Boyd-Buchanan boys won with a 319, which beat McMinn Central by three strokes.
McMinn Central’s John Houk, who shot a 77, won a sudden-death playoff that lasted four holes to claim the top individual prize. He topped teammate Dylan Miller, Casey Tull of Collegedale Academy and Loudon’s Jason Smallen. Loudon also will be playing Thursday.
“I thought the boys played well and the scores were evenly distributed,” Boyd-Buchanan coach Ed Connelly said. “Everybody had trouble on the back, where we started, when it was wet and foggy.”
Hixson wins 6-A/AA
Hixson swept the District 6-A/AA team and individual titles Monday at Moccasin Bend in a field where only two full boys’ and girls teams participated.
Hixson’s Tate Troung was the boys’ medalist with a 75 in the team’s 317. Ali Barker led the Lady Wildcats to a 166.
Also playing Thursday at the Bear Trace at Harrison Bay will be the Marion County boys (373), Sale Creek girls (194) and individuals Joseph Clark of Central, Tucker Abbot and Chase Frame of South Pittsburg and Garrett Hale and Drew Roberts of Van Buren County
Irish win 7-A/AA
The boys’ golf teams at Notre Dame, Signal Mountain and Grundy County are one step closer to reaching their season goal of playing for a state championship.
Notre Dame won the District 7-A/AA boys’ event Monday at Fall Creek Falls by 12 shots over Signal Mountain, 316 to 328, with Grundy County also advancing to the Region 4 event. Four-time state champion Signal was the girls’ winner with a 164, and Chattanooga Christian was third behind Clay County.
“The boys played OK,” Irish coach Jeff Fisher said. “We just had to be in the top three to advance, and it’s a pleasant surprise that we won. We’ll have to play stronger next week.”
Notre Dame senior Reese Scobey was the boys’ medalist at 73. Signal Mountain’s Taylor Gardner topped teammate Bethany Burns in a playoff for the girls’ honor after both shot 82s.
All four set for state
Baylor is going – both teams. So are McCallie and Girls Preparatory School.
Baylor’s girls claimed an 11-stroke victory in the Division II-AA East/Middle Region tournament Monday at Bear Trace at Tims Ford by defeating the Bruisers 148 to 159. Father Ryan was the boys’ winner at 283 and McCallie and Baylor were second and third at 286 and 287.
The top four advance to Willowbrook in Manchester for the state tournament that begins Monday.
Baylor freshman Elina Saska was the girls’ individual winner with an even-par 71, and Tia Teiniketo added a 77 for the Lady Red Raiders. GPS, led by a 77 from Mary Melissa Manuel, played one of its best rounds of the year.
“Our girls shot their third worst round of the year,” Baylor coach Gary Partrick said. “GPS played really well and Elina bailed us out with two birdies in her last four holes. She really chipped and putted well. You could tell it was a struggle for her.”
Baylor junior Chase Roswall was the boys’ medalist with a 4-under 67. McCallie’s Steve Bernstein was the runner-up after shooting a 70.
“We did the old survive-and-advance routine,” Partrick said. “It’s a very deep region, and I’m glad that both McCallie and us and GPS and us advance.”
Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6484. Follow him at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP.