By Thomas Sellers Jr.
Arlington’s Megan Ward Brighton’s Aubree Jones
Yesterday Glen Eagle in Millington played host to the 2015 Region 7-3A Golf Tournament.
Favorites like Brighton’s Aubree Jones lived up to expectations shooting a 68 to win the girls’ individual crown. And upstarts like Munford’s Josh Hatfield qualified for next week’s Class 3A Boys State Golf Tournament shooting a 79 on the Glen Eagle course.
The two teams to take the championships were the Arlington Tigers for the boys and the Brighton Lady Cardinals for the girls.
The Lady Cardinals won with a team score of 152, giving Jones and teammate Tess Hendrickson spots in the Class 3A Girls State Golf Tournament to be held Sept. 29-30 at WillowBrook Golf Club in Manchester.
Jones, the two-time defending State champion, outlasted playing partners Megan Ward of Arlington and Kailee Anderson of Dyer County. The duo shot an 82 and 100 respectively.
Paige Jones of Dyer County shot a 109 and Munford’s Tracy Wade also posted a 109.
A playoff was needed in the boys action to settle the fourth and final individual spot for State. Larkie Dotson of Bolton faced off against Munford’s Kyle Kelley for the final berth on the 10th hole.
Kelley had a putt lip out while Dotson buried his birdie attempt to earn a spot at State.
Also joining Dotson at State are Bartlett’s Garrett Underhill (72), Bartlett’s Toby Wilson (74) and Munford’s Hatfield.
Hatfield’s 79 helped the Cougars finished third with a team score of 332. Arlington won the boys’ team title with a 318 sending players like Aaron Tennyson (76) and Charlie Long (78) to State.
Bartlett finished second with a team score of 327. The Arlington girls shot a 193 on the day.
The boys’ and girls’ State Tournament will take place next week starting Sept. 29.
For all the pairings and additional information on this year’s TSSAA Division I State Tournament go to http://tssaa.org/2015-tssaa-state-golf-championships/
Josh Hatfield
