Cherokee’s Christian Ensley follows through on a shot during a four-school match at the Maggie Valley Country Club on Tuesday, March 17. Ensley led all golfers on the course with a career-low 40. (AMBLE SMOKER/One Feather)
By AMBLE SMOKER
ONE FEATHER STAFF
MAGGIE VALLEY – The Cherokee golf team hosted the Highlands Highlanders, the Murphy Bulldogs, and the Hayesville Yellow Jackets in their first home match of the season at the Maggie Valley Club and Resort on Tuesday, Mar. 17. Murphy and Highlands tied for first with 178, Cherokee took third with 199, and Hayesville rounded out the field with 216.
“We improved our overall team score from the last match from a 204 to a 199,” said Braves head coach Andrew Maney. “Playing with better course management is a big reason for our improvement. Again, our short game is an area where we have to improve.”
Christian Ensley, of the Braves, took top honors by carding his best round of his high school career with a 40 on the 3,201 yard, par-36 course. Johnny Lupoli (Highlands) finished second with 42.
“Christian played really well, and I was glad to see him shoot his best score yet in his three years playing golf for us on 9 holes,” Coach Maney related. “He is capable of shooting rounds like this and better as the year progresses.”
“Steven (Straughan) also got into the 40s, which is another reason our team score was better.”
The individual Cherokee scores were as follows: Christian Ensley 40, Steven Straughan 49, Holden Straughan 52, John Lossiah 56, and Justin Brady 58.
To view or purchase photos from this match, visit: https://onefeather.smugmug.com/SPORTS/GOLF/Braves-2015/Home-match-at-Maggie-Valley/
