Ensworth Ends Baylor's Win Streak at 16

[bbb]

MANCHESTER -- With smiles on their faces and tears of joy rolling down their cheeks, a pair of Ensworth golfers wrapped themselves in a state championship hug just off the ninth green late Tuesday afternoon here at WillowBrook Golf Club; a hug they have waited for for a year.

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The happy teens - Alexandra Farnsworth and Maddie Williams - guided Ensworth, who was state runner-up a year ago, to a state championship 24-over 312 score to defeat 16-time defending state champion Baylor who placed second with a 26-over par 314, while St. Agnes was a distant third at 47-over 335 in the eight- team field. GPS finished eighth at 387.

 

Highlighted by Farnsworth’s impressive state medalist 1-over 145 total, Williams posted a 23-over 167 and Lindsay Miller shot 188, to give Ensworth its first golf state crown.

 

Baylor and Ensworth were tied for the lead at 5-over 149 after Monday.

 

Baylor, who was going for sole possession of the national record at 17 straight, was led by Blakesly Warren (13-ovcr 157) and Teleri Hughes (14-over 158).

 

“We played well yesterday, but not today and Ensworth played well for 36 holes and that was the difference,†said Baylor coach Gary Partrick.

 

“We are not satisfied with a state runner-up trophy at all and will go back to work tomorrow to fix this (second place).â€

 

D-II AA Boys’: After more than a two-hour rain delay (10:45 a.m. to 1:05 p.m., the boys’ championship was not completed Tuesday, thus reverting back to Monday’s results with defending champ McCallie declared the winner with a 283.

 

“We have stressed the team concept all year and to have five guys shoot in the 70s or better is pretty impressive,†said McCallie coach Tony Meyers.

 

McCallie also had the state individual champion in sophomore Gordon Hulgan who shot a 3-under 69.

 

“We brought our "A" game to the state and it is sweet to win a second straight title,†said Hulgan who is McCallie'second individual golf champion ever following Patrick Clossin who won it last year with a 141.

 

Farnsworth and friends brought their version of an "A" game as well; albeit a bit soggy, sometimes erratic one, but in the long run, successful.

 

“We really wanted this (state title) and worked out butts off for the last month or so,†said Farnsworth. "This (state title) is bigger than anything.

 

“We are good friends with the Baylor players, but when you walk to the first tee you play to win.

 

And win they did.

 

“We did not play well early and were down four shots when the long rain delay came which really helped us,†said Ensworth coach Joe Gaskins. “We re-grouped and played tough the last 10 or 11 holes.â€

 

“I compare Alexandra to Seabiscuit (the champion horse) who is steady on a wet, muddy track and Maddie made some big shots down the stretch and once we had the lead we never gave it up.â€

 

After the long delay, Farnsworth then double-bogeyed 18 (her ninth hole), but composed herself and shot 1-over coming home, including 1-under the final five holes.

 

Honoring Her Mom: For Williams - wearing pink socks in honor of her mom (Marilyn) who twice has recovered from breast cancer and having her grandad's golf hall of fame ring close by (in her dad's pocket) – it was righting the ship after 5-over on holes 10-14, but playing tough down the stretch.

 

"I got mad at myself after the double bogey on No.14 and knew I had to play well coming home for us to win," said Williams who plays at Hillwood Golf Club where former Baylor three-time state champion May Wood is an assistant pro.

 

Williams was a solid 2-over the final four holes, including a par on No. 18 to put an exclamation point and close the door on the championship run.

 

"Everything hit right for us this week and this is so big for us to win it," said Gaskins.

 

"We have great respect for Baylor and its golf program and I would put them up against any of the top teams across the country."

 

D-II A & AA Results

D-II A Boys'

Team Champion: Evangelical Christian

Team Standings: ECS (299), St. George's (301), Webb School of Knoxville (304), Harding Academy (316), Franklin Road Academy (318), Donelson Christian Academy (333)

Individual Champion: Connor Davis

(Southern Baptist Educational Center) 34-33-67 (5-under)

 

D-II AA Boys'

Team Champion: McCallie

Team Standings: McCallie (283), Battle Ground Acacemy (302), Christian Brothers (302), Briarcrest (307), Brentwood Academy (308), Pope John Paul II (308)

Individual Champion: Gordon Hulgan (McCallie) 35-34-69 (3-under)

 

D-II A Girls':

Team Champion: Franklin Road Academy

Team Standings: Franklin Road Academy (158), University School Nashville (161), St. George's (174), St. Mary's (176), First Assembly Christian School (183)

Individual Champion: Sara Garmezy (Univ. School Nashville)

36-38-74 (2-over)

 

D-II AA Girls'

Team Champion: Ensworth

Team Standings: Ensworth (312), Baylor (314), St. Agnes (336), Briarcrest )369), Pope John Paul II (369), GPS (387)

Individual Champion: Alexandra Farnsworth (Ensworth) 71-74-145 (1-over)

 

State Golf Notes:

 

McCallie Sees Red: In one of the few times where seeing red for McCallie is a good thing, the Blue Tornado had three players shoot in red figures (under par);

 

69 (3-under) Gordon Hulgan*

70 (2-under) Case White

71 (1-under) Patrick McDonald

*individual state champion

 

Good Four Blue Years : Coach Tony Meyers' McCallie linksmen have put up some good numbers the past four years ...

5 - players under par at state championship ...

*Gordon Hulgan (2011 - 69, 3-under), der)70 (2-under) Case White (70, 2-under), Patrick McDonald (71, 1-under), *Patrick Clossin (2010 - 141, 3-under), Will Snipes (2008 - 139, 5-under)

*state champions

4 - top four state finishes

(1st-2011, 1st-2010, 3rd-2009, 3rd-2008)

3 - Region Team Champions

(2011, 2009, 2008)

2 - State Team Titles

(2011, 2010)

2 - Individual State Champions

Gordon Hulgan (201l), Patrick Clossin (2010)

 

Back to Work: "Some people can come to the state tournament and be satisfied with a state runner-up trophy, but not us," said Baylor coach Gary Partrick. "We have to work to win it again.

 

"We now have a rival."

 

Breast Cancer Survivor: Marilyn Williams, mother of Ensworth player Maddie Williams, has had breast cancer, twice.

 

"I was diagnosed the first time in 2001 and had radiation treatment," said Mrs. Williams who lost a sister, Betty at age 54, to breast cancer in 2000, four months before being diagnosed herself.

 

The doctors detected cancer in her left breast a second time in 2004 and Mrs. Williams, now 53, went through chemotherapy.

 

"I have been clean for seven years which is great," she said with a smile. "I went through the hair loss and wore lots of caps, but I have my hair back now which is good."

 

Handling The Pressure: Baylor coach Gary Partrick talked after the trophy presentations about his player's handling the pressure of the 16-state title streak.

 

"Actually, the pressure was on last year's team to win that 16th title and tie Xavier College Prep for the national record.

 

So this team already has the record and they have lived this for two years which is a lot to deal with.

 

Rainy Conditions: "No excuses, we did not handle the long rain delay well and didn't play well the last couple of hours (mostly in a steady rain) and Ensworth did and you have to give them credit," Partrick stated."

 

Royal and Ancient: For the first couple of hours after play resumed at 1:05 p.m., there was a steady rain and with overcast skies and a little breeze, one could have envisioned this tourney being called the British Open for prep schools at the Royal and Ancient at St. Andrews, Scotland ...

all that was needed were some bag pipes and some of the greats to caddy for these excellent prep players - Sam Snead, Gene Sarazen, Tony Jacklin or maybe Babe Didrikson Zaharias.

 

King Oehmig the Mentor: Former Baylor coach the very reverent King Oehmig, has been a mentor to Ensworth sophomore Maddie Williams the past two years to offer, encouragement, guidance and be a positive unfluence.

 

Grand Gentlemen of the Game: Oehmig's dad, Lew, and Maddie's grandfather, Lester, were good friends and playing partners over the years ...

 

Williams is in the Georgia Coaches Hall of Fame for Golf as he led three schools to golf state titles; Marietta, Cedartown and Elberton ... Maddie's dad, Herky, played on the 1970 Marietta state title team and former PGA Tour player Doug Sanders played for coach Williams and was state individual champion in 1953 at Cedartown High School.

 

contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net

 

story is also posted on chattanoogan.com click on sports

Edited October 12, 2011 by bbb

[oldwiseone]

The record Baylor's girls golf team shares is an unbelievable accomplishment and one that will probably never be equaled. Congratulations on a great run.