REGION CHAMPIONS

The Corbin Redhounds’ boys golf team continued their hold on the 13^th Region with a first place finish Monday at London’s Crooked Creek.

The Redhounds overcame a wet, rainy morning to claim the title for the fourth year in a row beating out Jackson County for first place. The Redhounds finished with a 313 with Jackson County coming in second with a 327. It will be Jackson County’s first trip to the state high school golf tournament in school history.

The Redhounds may have taken the team title with ease, but the individual title came down to a three-man playoff with two Corbin players tied with Clay County’s Tyler McDaniel at 74. Cody Ellis and Alex Davis finished the 18-hole course with a three-over 74 as well.

The three went to the 18^th hole for a sudden death playoff. Ellis got off a beautiful shot that set the junior up for a birdie to win the region. McDaniel and Davis went on to hole #1 to finish out the tournament. McDaniel took second and Davis had to settle for third.

Corbin Coach Brad Harris was pleased with his team’s performance despite the poor playing conditions. “I thought we played pretty good,” Harris said. “The main thing it was good enough. You want to play well to give yourself a good spot at the state because the first day they pair you up by your regional scores.”

“We knew we had a good shot to win going into the tournament because of our depth,” Harris said of the four-peat. “Our two (Ellis) and for (Davis) played really well today,” he added.

Harris said the 313 was a bit higher than his team’s average during tournament play this year. “It was colder and rainy. All of the scores were higher,” Harris said.

“I felt like the guys played pretty good considering the conditions,” he said. The course played longer because it was wet.”

Chander Maguet finished with an 81 while brother, Connor carded an 84. John Hamilton rounded out the day with an 88.

The Redhounds will return to the state tournament for the fourth year in a row. Corbin was ranked third in the state during the last high school coaches’ poll.

Harris said the team will continue to work on the little things. “We will work on the short game a little and just work on the things we have to do to play our best. We want to eliminate the big numbers like double bogey’s, triple bogey’s and worse.”

“I feel like our play is where it needs to be right now,” Harris said. “We are playing really well at this point.”

Whitley County finished with a 422 with Harris leading his team with a 90. Others were Moore 103, Martin 112, Rhodes 117 and Taylor 117.

Williamsburg rounded out the day with a 443 with Culver and Dobson finishing with a 104 while Sudduth scoring a 111. Hunter Williams finished the day with a 124 while Jared Barton rounded out the morning with a 127.

Team Score: Corbin 313, Jackson Co. 327, Wayne Co. 333, Barbourville 336, Pulaski Co. 344, North Laurel 346,  Rockcastle Co. 353, Middlesboro 357, Clay Co. 357, South Laurel 364, Southwestern 366, Somerset 375, Lee Co., 386, Knox Central 388, Harlan 398, Pineville 400, Harlan Co. 410, Whitley Co. 422, Bell Co. 427, Monticello 429, McCreary Central 434, Williamsburg 443, Owsley Co. 500, Lynn Camp (no team score).

Region’s Top Ten

1. Ellis, Corbin                  74

2. McDaniel, Clay            74

3. Davis, Corbin               74

4. Norris, JC                      76

5. Gamble, B-ville            77

5. Jeffers, NL                     77

7. Blevins, Wayne            78

8. Blaine Wyatt, KC          80

9. Boggs, SL                      81

9. Maguet, Corbin             81

9. Pensol, RC                     81

9. Whitaker, RC                 81