MUS Tops Baylor For Boys D-II AA Crown

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MANCHESTER -- Stealing a page from Masters lore  - the championship doesn't start until the final 9 on the last day -  the Memphis University School golfers closed with a cumulative 3-under, while defending champ Baylor shot 7-over coming in as the Owls won the 2013 D-II AA Boys state golf championship here at WillowBrook Golf Club.

 

Sitting three shots back after Day One, MUS was led by "lights out" golf by eventual state medalist Hays Moreland (Jr. ) who used eagle-birdie-par on the final three holes to shoot a winning 140 (71-69).

 

MUS carded a winning 588, followed by runner-up Baylor (599), Briarcrest (600), McCallie (607), Ensworth (607) and Montgomery Bell Academy (612).

 

"It's been a long time coming for MUS golf (last title came in 1996) and these guys played smart golf, finished positive on each nine and deserved to win," said MUS coach Cliff Frisby.

 

The Owls heeded Frisby's words as each of the four scoring golfers shot par or better on the final two holes on each nine.

 

"I played well yesterday even though my score (78) wasn't that great, but I was able to make to big shots and putts to finish well today (even par 72)," said senior and student council president Hayden Combs who along with fellow senior Tucker Fox were one years old the last time an Owls team held the championship trophy.

 

Coach Frisby pointed to freshman (Goodman Rudolph) as another good example of finishing strong.

 

"Goodman four-putted 16 (playing the back 9 first), but came right back with par-par on 17 and 18 and topped that with a birdie on No.1," stated Frisby.

 

At the start of the day, Baylor led Montgomery Bell Academy by one (298-299), MUS, McCallie, Ensworth by three (301) and Briarcrest (307) by nine.

 

Briarcrest made the biggest move on Day two, going from sixth to third, while MBA slipped from second to sixth. 

 

"We played good golf and broke 600 (599), but needed to play great golf to win," said Baylor coach Gary Partrick.

 

"Hats off to MUS as they played great golf and they went out and won it. I am happy for Cliff as it has been a long time coming for him and that program."

 

And a young program at that.

 

MUS state medalist Moreland is a junior, while Rudolph twin brothers (Goodman and Mason) are freshman, while Baylor has youth and depth led by sophomore Oliver Simonsen (3rd, 143) and freshman Chase Roswall (4th (tied), 146) along with junior Nic Vandeventer (20th (tied), 153) and freshman Gavin Roberson (25th (tied), 157).

 

A Rudolph Wins State Every 30 Years: Former PGA Tour player Mason Rudolph won state championships in 1951-52 in leading Clarksville HS to the team titles ... 30+ years later, his son, the late Craig Rudolph also won the state medalist honors in leading Clarksville to the team crown in 1983 ... Fast Forward 30 more years and Craig's freshmen twins Goodman and Mason Rudolph gain their state team medals for MUS.

 

D-II AA Boys

Team Champion MUS

 

Memphis Univ. School (588), Baylor (599), Briarcrest (600), McCallie (607), Ensworth (607), Montgomery Bell Academy (612)

 

Top Four Individuals (received medals)

1 Hays Moreland - 71-69 -- 140

2 Patrick McDonald (McCallie) 67-75 - -142

3 Oliver Simonsen (Baylor) 71-72 -- 143

4 Peyton Dix (Briarcrest) 77-69 -- 146

4 Grey Peevy (St. Benedict)   72-74 -- 146

4 Chase Roswall (Baylor) 72-74 -- 146

 

D-II AA Girls

Team Champion: * Baylor  (292) defeated Ensworth (303) by 11 strokes

State Medalist: *Blakesly Warren (Baylor) 70-70 -- 140

 

D-II A Boys

Team Champion: St. George's (583) defeating runner-I Webb School of Knoxville (610) by 27 shots.

State Medalist: *Grant Hirschman (St. George's) 70-69 -- 139

 

D-II A Girls

Team Champion: * Franklin Road Academy (322) defeating runner-up First Assembly Christian School (326) by four shots.

 

State Medalist: Nicole Page (FRA) 73-76 --149

 

*- defending champion

 

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

Edited September 24, 2013 by bbb