Baylor will never forget its magical trip to Seveirville for the TSSAA Division II-AA golf championship.
Red Raiders seniors Sheldon Mcknight, David Schneider Jerez, Haden Maxwell and Brett Cooper shot a team score of 277 for 11-under-par at the River Course at a windy and wet Seveirville Golf Club on Tuesday. Adding that total to their first day scorecard, Baylor shot 557 (-19) for the tournament to set a new TSSAA record.
An excited bunch soaked in the moment as the Red Raiders broke their own state tournament, 36-hole record of 565 from 2003.
"Coach P (Gary Partrick) just told us go out there and do your work and keep your head up," said McKnight, who made nine birdies at the state tournament. "History was going to be made if we simply stayed true to who we are. What we care about is not ourselves, but going low as a team. That's cool to us. I am super proud of my teammates."
A 20th all-time state championship team title was brought home by the Red Raiders as well as the Lady Red Raiders.
Baylor's girls' team battled back from a four-stroke deficit to Lipscomb Academy to win that team title by one stroke. Paula Liano drained her seventh and final birdie on No. 18 while Carlee Rogers sealed the championship with a par on the final hole.
Liano also won the Division II-AA individual state title shooting 1-over-par over 36 holes. Baylor has had an individual win a girls' state title on 14 occasions.
Between five Red Raiders golfers, which included junior Viktor Stollinger, the boys' team made three eagles and 38 birdies compared to just two double bogeys over the two-day tournament.
McKnight, Schneider Jerez and Maxwell finished in a tie for second-place at 5-under-par, while Cooper (two eagles) landed right behind them at 4-under. Brentwood Academy eighth grader Blades Brown won state at 11-under.
"I can not believe we did that," McKnight said of the Red Raiders' 19-under-par finish. "This is something that we will cherish and have the rest of our lives. We got to experience something not many people ever get to feel. To set a state record like this as a team is the greatest feeling ever."
In the Class AA girls' championship, Cleveland senior Hannah Nall shot a 66 (-4) on Tuesday to finish second behind Station Camp's Lynn Lim. Nall's showing helped the Lady Blue Raiders finish second behind state champion Clarksville.
Walker Valley's Ian Kinsey shot 2-under to place seventh in the Class AA boys' field. McCallie's Charles Warren shot even par to finish in 10th place in Division II-AA.