Dragons’ golf teams struggle but show resilience
The Clinton High School golf teams continued their 2024 season last week, with both the Lady Dragons and Dragons experiencing challenges on the links.
On Thursday, both teams traveled to Northeast Knoxville to compete at Three Ridges Golf Course.
In a four-way match, the Dragons finished fourth, 15 strokes behind the leading team, Campbell County, which had a team total of 167.
The host Gibbs Eagles posted a 169, and Oliver Springs finished at 170. Clinton recorded a 182 on the front nine, where par is 36.
CHS captain Braden Wolfe shot a 4-over 40.
Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, Aug. 13, the Dragons played a three-way match at Centennial Golf Course against Anderson County and Karns.
The Mavericks narrowly defeated Clinton, 158-169. Karns did not have enough players to post a team score.
On the par-35 front nine, Grant Hannah led the Dragons with a score of 36, followed by Wolfe with a 37.
Despite the Dragons’ struggles in competition, Coach Matt Cain praised his team, especially Wolfe, for their participation in the “Meet the Dragons” event held Friday night.
“I was really pleased with the way the team represented themselves in the community,” Cain said. “I’m particularly pleased with Braden for his leadership. He was interacting with the kids.”
The Lady Dragons’ Kinley Crowley and Sahara Love are competing closely for the team’s top scoring honors early in the season.
“One is averaging 49, and the other is averaging 49.5,” Cain said. “It’s a team sport, but they’re competing with each other, and friendly competition is good.”
Reece Hollifield, who also plays for Clinton, is balancing her commitments as a member of the school’s cheer squad, and competes in a limited schedule of events.
Crowley and Love each shot a 48 in the Lady Dragons’ 95-96 loss to rival Anderson County.
Hollifield also competed in that match at Centennial Golf Course on Aug. 13, shooting a 56.