Michael Barnard
SOUTH PITTSBURG — A pair of Clarksville area golfers from rival schools were embracing on the course on Tuesday afternoon.
However, Coffee County stole the show in the end.
Clarksville freshman McKinley Cunningham and Rossview freshman Sadie Pan made back-to-back hole-in-ones on hole No. 9 during Tuesday’s Baylor Preview at Sweetens Cove Golf Course.
Clarksville freshman McKinley Cunningham (at left) and Rossview freshman Sadie Pan made back-to-back holes-in-one on Tuesday at the Baylor Preview.
“It was the perfect location for the hole,” Rossview girls golf coach Phil Burkhart said. “Up above the ninth hole is a big tree and a picnic area. The guy who runs the course was up there watching, and a lot of parents were watching.
“I was on (hole) eight watching Caroline (Caudill) and Sadie too. McKinley hits it, and I hear a roar. They can’t see the hole from where they are. I tell her it went in, and she turns white. Then, Sadie hits it, and a couple of people start talking. Then, four or five start talking. It rolls, rolls, rolls … then, they start cheering. I had never seen anything like it.”
Both girls were playing in their first high-school tournament, though they competed against each other while playing for Richview Middle School and Rossview Middle, respectively. It was the first hole-in-one for both.
The course saw a third hole-in-one when Coffee County senior Savannah Quick made a hole-in-one on the final hole, helping her squad edge Rossview by one stroke for the championship.
Rossview junior Catherine Caudill produced a two-day total of 142 (74-68) to earn medalist honors, finishing three strokes better than Coffee County sophomore Ashley Gilliam (74-71).
- Hendersonville junior Bryce Lewis – a Middle Tennessee State commitment – won boys medalist honors at the Baylor Preview, which was played at Black Creek Golf Club for the male golfers.
Bryce Lewis
Lewis shot 139 (69-70), finishing four strokes better than MUS senior Goodman Rudolph (72-71), a Mississippi State commitment.
Reach Craig Harris at 615-259-8238 and on Twitter @CHTennessean.