Avery golf hit the course last week both at Mountain Glen Golf Club and at Grassy Creek Golf Club in a pair of conference matches. The Vikings combined to shoot a 361 in the Mountain Glen event, good for fifth place and just five shots behind fourth place finisher Owen.
The top individual finishers for the day included Chase Watson, who continued his torrid streak of great golf as he shot a 79 over the 18-hole course. Mitchell’s Thomas Buchanan finished with the low score of the day with a 76, while
“We came in about five strokes higher than our season averages, and the Mitchell team was phenomenal. Two players broke par, including a 69 from Thomas Burleson, and their team shot a 302,” Avery head golf coach Boe Barinowski said of the week’s action. “Chase continued to shoot well for us, and Shea Buchanan shot a 78 for us which was good, considering the slow, bumpy conditions of the greens.”
The Vikings competed this week in the two-day conference tournament, held this past Monday at Grassy Creek Golf Course in Spruce Pine and on Tuesday at Mountain Glen. The event is important as it goes a long way in determining the top two 1A schools to compete as a group at regional competition as well as the four individual golfers to compete at the regional level.
“Mitchell is a good distance ahead right now, and at this point we are battling with
During Monday’s round at a cool and windy Grassy Creek course, the Vikings ended the round only 12 shots behind fellow 1A foe
Avery shot a round of 352, with Chase Watson and Morgan Johnson carding Avery’s low individual scores of 83 apiece in the less-than-ideal weather conditions.
The Viking golf team has shown vast improvement from last season to this season, and the coach credits both the hard work of the players as well as assists from other unlikely sources.
“The lowest we shot last year as a group by season’s end is still 15 strokes higher than what we’ve shot this year as a team. The boys have done a good job committing to practicing chipping and putting, as well as their overall game,” Coach Barinowski stated.
As Tuesday dawned and the players were preparing for the second and final round of play, the Viking team was struck with devastating news.
Johnson’s sterling round
“That rule is only enforced in the conference tournament. It’s not a decision about what to do, but whether or not we as coaches will exercise this rule, and the rule was exercised on the recommendation of Quentin (Mitchell head golf coach Quentin Buchanan),” Avery head golf coach Boe Barinowski said after the tournament. “The rule I believe was misapplied. The rule was not clear to the coach walking with the group, and she did not have a rule sheet or know the rule.”
Barinowski was quick to point out what factors contributed to the situation taking place, and how further issues as what occurred might be addressed.
“State and regional rules differ from conference rules. Rules are not enforced during conference play, only during the tournament,” Coach Barinowski said of factors contributing to the decision. “There is no other sport where coaches are on the field of play throughout the day, with six miles of terrain on 18 holes during a round. The opportunity for people to take license and converse with players during a round is prominent, and it is tolerated during conference play but not in the conference tournament. I feel we should be consistent between regular season and conference tournament play,” Coach Barinowski stated.
“The fact that the Monday’s score of 83 was the lowest score Johnson had shot for the season and fourth lowest of the conference, which was disallowed following the ruling.
“I think the welfare of the student-athlete was subordinated to one person’s desire to enforce a rule one time. Every group in every tournament can be cited for a rules infraction. None of us are pros. I’m not sure it’s appropriate to call a rule violation the day after a round is complete,” Coach Barinowski explained. “I am certain that three of the other coaches knew of the rules violation before scores were posted Monday and no one did anything. I believe if there is knowledge of a potential violation, it should be made during that day’s proceedings. Morgan and his father Brian are both devastated. They just feel terrible and feel cheated over the whole thing.”
Coach Barinowski revealed that Johnson received no benefit from the rule infraction.
“Both Morgan and Brian told me that they spoke of everything but golf, and that was it,” the coach stated. Nevertheless, the DQ had an adverse affect on the entire Avery squad.
“How did it hurt the team? You only have to look at the first tee on Tuesday. After having heard of the ruling that Morgan’s score is not allowed, each of our three best players shoot double par 10 on the first tee box. At the first tee box we had no pars, unusual since all our players at least par the hole in practice.”
The coach made clear to point out that even if Johnson’s scores had been allowed, the Vikings as a team would not have caught second-place
“This decision did not hurt the team as much as it did one child. Morgan played well enough with a combined tournament score to qualify for regional play as one of the top four individual players,” Coach Barinowski explained. “Morgan would have been All-Conference had his score of 129 held up. Ethan would not have made the regional tournament had Morgan not been penalized, still giving us three qualifiers,” Coach Barinowski stated. “Ethan and Morgan are very good friends and play a lot of golf together. I am glad for Ethan because that 45 represents the lowest nine holes he’s had all season, and that is significant.”
Due to inclement weather conditions, including rain, wind, and hail, only the first nine holes played were counted toward team and player scores, combined with the previous day’s 18 holes for a total 27-hole score.
At tournament’s end, Avery’s Chase Watson was the lone Avery player to earn All-Conference honors, finishing tied for the sixth-best score overall at 128. Watson, in addition to teammates Shea Buchanan (147) and Ethan Buchanan (144) posted qualifying scores for regional tournament play, which will take place on Monday, May 3rd at Woodbridge Golf Course in
“All three of our players who qualified would have also done so for the 2A regional as well. 152, 161, 137, and 135 were the scores for the 2A regional qualifiers. Our entire team shot below what is going to 2A regions,” Coach Barinowski pointed out. “This year 1A conference play was more competitive.”
The remaining Viking golfers participating in the tournament included the duo of senior Hunter Gossett (150) and senior Dylan Aldridge (152). Teammate Sam Kyle Hicks did not participate in the conference tournament, but continued to work with the team in practice and offer support to the team.
In spite of the weather, the Mountain Glen course and staff were extremely supportive of the Avery players specifically and the tournament as a whole.
“We are so grateful to Sam Foster and the club at Mountain Glen. Some of the members and Sam chipped in for food, and Sam cooked the food and provided spotters for the day,” Barinowski stated. “He also helped me set the lineup, taking away from his business on Tuesday morning to sit with me and go over pairings for about two hours. He then directly left to go buy food and cook it. It was just absolutely great support for the kids, the program, and the school.”
Overall, the Vikings squad finished fifth at the tournament with a combined score of 550. Neighbor and rival Mitchell took home top honors with a solid team score of 494, sweeping both Most Outstanding Golfer (Thomas Buchanan) and Coach of the Year (Quentin Buchanan) awards.
The top two squads representing both the 1A and 2A classes making up the Western Highlands Conference earn regional tournament berths. The top four players who did not play on a regional qualifying team are also invited to individually compete at the tournament. Below are the complete team and individual scores from the two-day
Team Stroke Totals:
1 – Mitchell (1A team regional qualifier) – 494
2 –
3 –
4 – Owen (2A team regional qualifier) – 538
5 – Avery – 550
6 – Thomas Jefferson – 607
7 – Mountain Heritage – 628
8 –
All Conference Selections:
1 – Thomas Buchanan (Mitchell) 70-40 – 110
2 – Wiekus Tolles (H’Ville) 76-42 – 118
3 – Luke Stewart (Mitchell) 79-43 – 122
4 – Mickey McMechen (Owen) 84-39 – 123
5 – Kyle Brown (Polk County) 84-42 – 126
6 – Chase Watson (Avery) 83–45 – 128
6 – Dylan Jones (Polk County) 83-45 – 128
8 – Davis Horne (Polk County) 88-43 – 131
8 – Grant Hahn (H’Ville) 88-43 – 131
8 – Marcus Wood (Mitchell) 87-44 – 131
Regional Qualifiers (Top 4 not on Qualifying Teams)
1A – Chase Watson (Avery) – 128; Lucas Murray (Thomas Jefferson) – 138; Ethan Buchanan (Avery) – 144; Shea Buchanan (Avery) – 147
2A – Gaston McGill (Madison) – 135; Tyler Emory (Madison) – 137; Spencer Bishop (Mountain Heritage) – 152; Zach Brown (Mountain Heritage) – 161
