Belmont University golf coach Scott Flynn relies a lot on his gut and recommendations from those he trusts.
So when performance consultant Charles Plott and Council Fire director of golf Hunt Gilliland gave Flynn a two-thumbs way up rating about McCallie senior Max Markley, the coach had to listen.
“I wasn’t able to see Max during competition,” Flynn admitted after receiving Markley’s signed letter of intent. “He was recommended by folks that had scouted him and folks that he’s worked with. Hunt — that’s a pretty good recommendation right there.
“He’s made steady progress through his junior golf career,” Flynn said. “He has a real professional manner, and he plays with a lot of class.”
Markley was selected to the Times Free Press Best of Preps first team last fall.
“It’s sort of a small school, which allows me not to be a small fish in a big school, and I’ll get a sense of Nashville,” Markley said. “Plus, I get to play the first year due to five seniors leaving. So I can play right away if I play well.”
Financial hit reduced
Three members of the TSSAA’s Board of Control, including Sequatchie County principal Tommy Layne, voted to reduce the penalty to be enforced against Knoxville’s Grace Christian Academy. The school had its financial penalty reduced by around $10,000 after being found guilty of playing ineligible player Eric Williams for multiple years.
In March the school was found guilty of having (Knoxville) Grace Baptist Church pastor Ron Stewart pay for Williams’ financial aid. The original penalty included fines totaling $24,000, but the three-man appeal committee — the East Tennessee Board of Control members — decided to eliminate the $100-per-game fine for each contest in which Williams had participated.
The postseason ban for all sports for one year and the extra year of a postseason ban for football and basketball remain in place. Grace Christian also must return to the TSSAA all profits from any postseason tournament or playoff game in football and basketball since 2007.