Dylan LillardDylan Lillard is returning to the Class AAA state golf tournament.
This year, his Walker Valley teammates will be going with him to Manchester.
Walker Valley won the Region 3-AAA championship Thursday at Lake Tansi by shooting a collective 309, which beat Cookeville by six shots. The winners’ Nick McCracken was the medalist with a 75.
East Hamilton, led by an 80 from Jeremy Kimbrough, placed third and McMinn County placed fifth behind an 80 from Dylan Leamon.
“Cookeville has had our number the last couple of years, and I can’t remember the last time we went as a team,” Walker Valley coach Bob Williams said. “I’m glad Dylan gets to go with his teammates this year.”
Besides the Mustangs, none of the Chattanooga-area boys participating in the region tournament advanced to the state tournament Sept. 29-30 at Willowbrook Golf Club. But area girls claimed all four individual spots and will have chances to win state medalist honors.
Walker Valley senior Katie Medley shot a 78 and beat Cleveland sophomore Rheagan Hall in a one-hole playoff for medalist honors. The Lady Mustangs were one stroke away from forcing a team playoff after shooting a 169 and losing to Warren County by a stroke.
“I hate that the girls lost by one,” Williams said. “It’s good for Katie, though.”
Medley and Hall will be joined by Soddy-Daisy’s Jayla Sims, who shot an 80, and Bradley Central junior Olivia Williams, who shot an 87. Hall and Williams are returning for a second straight year as individuals.
“Rheagan had a quadruple (bogey) on her eighth hole but then shot even the rest of the way,” Cleveland coach Nick Cantrell said. “She put a bad hole behind her and didn’t let it ruin her round.”
Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6484.