By AMBLE SMOKER
ONE FEATHER STAFF
On an unusual cool and windy day, the American Flag towering high over the Linville Golf Club clubhouse thrashed violently in the wind as members of the Cherokee Braves golf team approached the first tee. The practice round from a day prior confirmed the challenge these young men would face on the sloping fairways and crowned greens, reminiscent of the famous Pinehurst #2 course.
The Cherokee Braves golf team finished their season on Tuesday, May 6 at the 2014 1A Men’s Regional Golf Championships at the Linville Golf Club. The Braves finished in ninth place after carding a combined team score of 404 on the Par -72, 6,620-yard course.
“(I) really hated for our season to have to come to an end,” said coach Andrew Maney after the match. “I know we didn’t play as well as what we were capable of playing but that is golf and you have to move on.”
The final team results from the tournament were as follows:
1st place – Avery 330
2nd place – Pine Lake Prep 337
3rd place – Lincoln Charter 341
4th place – Swain 361
Tied for 5th – Murphy and Highland Tech 366
7th place – Highlands 376
8th place – Hayesville 379
9th place – Cherokee 404
The individual results from the Cherokee players were:
Tagan Crowe 84
Christian Ensley 94
Logan Teesateskie 113
John Lossiah 113
Derrick Ledford 122
Steven Straughan 131
Senior Tagan Crowe led the way with another stout performance to close out his high school career by shooting just 12-over par. He finished tenth out of a field of sixty two players and only missed qualifying for the NCHSAA State Championships by a single stroke.
“I was heartbroken for him in the end; he was only one stroke from qualifying as an individual for the State tournament next week,” said Maney. “After his round, we waited for two and a half hours thinking he was going to be in a playoff and then the last group has a kid turn in an 83 to slip past him. I am extremely proud of Tagan’s effort and hard work he put in throughout his four years as a player for this program.”
Maney went on to say, “Christian Ensley was another bright spot at this tournament as he carded a 94 on an extremely difficult golf course. I’m really going to miss this group of boys as they were fun, exciting, and coachable. We lose Tagan and Derrick. They’re going to be hard to replace, not only as golfers, but for what they brought to the team in other aspects. I am already looking forward to next season as we return a solid group of boys.”
“I would also like to say thank you to all the Braves families and fans we had show up to this tournament and other matches in support.”
