Sale Creek's Hannah Holland
Boyd Buchanan's Zacori HillZacori Hill of Boyd Buchanan and Hannah Holland of Sale Creek signed national letters of intent the last two days to play golf for Austin Peay State University, and each attended the other's signing ceremony.
Holland had committed first to the Governors, and Hill said her decision also was independent of Holland's choice, but both are glad to have the other along. They plan to room together at the school in Clarksville, Tennessee.
"Hannah going there didn't help make up mind, but it's definitely a nice bonus," Hill said Friday.
"Yes. We're good friends," said Holland, whose fourth-place individual performance helped Sale Creek finish third as a team in the TSSAA Division I Small Class tournament this fall.
She and her younger sister Ashley also went last year to state, where Hannah finished 10th. Hill was seventh and 10th the last two seasons in Division II-A, with the Lady Bucs second both times.
"Zacori has been a tremendous asset to the girls' golf program at Boyd Buchanan," coach Ed Connelly said. "She played in the state tournament four straight years and helped lead her team this year and last year to second-place finishes."
She was the medalist in three of the previous six tournaments she played this past high school season, and the Lady Bucs won five of them - including the City Prep and the district and region events. Hill won the district championship.
Both girls visited Lee and Milligan, and Holland added Tennessee Tech and Carson-Newman to her list. Hill also considered Lipscomb and Belmont.
"I liked the (Austin Peay) campus best, and all it had to offer, like the adviser and the courses," Holland said. "And I liked the coach (Amy McCollum). She supported me through the year."
Echoed Hill: "I like the feel of the campus and the people I met there - including the players and people just walking by. And I really like Coach Amy and the way she coaches."
Sale Creek coach Jimmy Pierce said he believed Holland was the school's first athlete in any sport "to sign with a college in this high of a division."
Contact Ron Bush at rbush@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6291.