MANCHESTER, Tenn. – McCallie coach Tony Meyers strolled around Willowbrook Golf Club with his iPod playing AC/DC.
His Blue Tornado team left the rest of the Division II-AA field thunderstruck.
McCallie won its second Division II-AA state championship on Wednesday at Willowbrook Golf Club with a two-day total of 585, which topped Briarcrest by eight and Baylor by 18.
DIVISION II-AA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPWILLOWBROOK GOLF CLUBBoys’ Final Scores Wednesday595 – McCallie (Patrick Clossin 141, Andrew Weathers 147, Case White 153, Gordon Hulgan 154). 603 – Briarcrest. 613 – Baylor (Josh Gregorich 149, Spencer Honey 151, Blake Maum 157, Jake Hamilton 161). 618 – Memphis University School. 624 – Brentwood Academy. 630-Ensworth.
“We talked all year about just getting to state and I was thinking it would be good if we finished in the middle of the pack,” Meyers said. “That all changed on Tuesday.”
McCallie built an impressive 11-shot lead after the first round and cruised in the second round with medalist Patrick Clossin leading the charge.
“I didn’t think we could shoot 291, but the kids proved me wrong and that changed my thinking,” Meyers said. “The kids figured, I guess, that since they’re here, they may as well win this thing.”
Freshman Case White had the biggest surprise of McCallie’s tournament when playing in the fifth spot, he shot a 1-under 71 in the first round.
“Coach told me to shoot a 78 or 79, and I shot 71 and it was awesome,” White said. “It helped a lot. But it wasn’t just me.”
Clossin had plenty of involvement in the victory. He shot a 1-over-par 73 on Wednesday after a 4-under 68 on Tuesday for a 3-under 141. He beat Zach Olsen of Memphis University School by two shots.
“I started birdie-eagle today so the start couldn’t have been better and it stretched my lead to four, then I coasted for a while,” Clossin said. “Then towards the end, I had a double [bogey] on No. 17, and I think that’s the first time the pressure and the nerves got to me.
“Our goal the entire year was just to make it to state. So this is overwhelming.”
McCallie sophomore Andrew Weathers finished fifth at 147 and Baylor sophomore Josh Gregorich was ninth at 149. Baylor finished third as a team with a 613.
“We were 11 down when we talked last night about settling for the silver or going for the gold,” Baylor coach Gary Partrick said. “We went for it. We took some chances and most of them didn’t work out. But the boys have a lot to be proud of.”
McCallie last won a state golf championship in 2002 when Adam Mitchell and Bryce Ledford were on the team.
“They had superstars,” Clossin joked. “I’ve been on teams that were tied and even had the lead. But this is my biggest golfing achievement. It gives me the shivers.”
This McCallie team is comprised of Clossin, a senior, two sophomores and two freshmen, which makes the victory so stunning.
“Sometimes, not knowing what you’re getting into is a good thing,” Meyers said. “They really set the pace yesterday. Then in the end, we avoided making big numbers.”
And the applause during the trophy celebration sounded like sweet music instead of classic rock.
Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6484. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/UchSports.