RHS golf team shoots team best score
By Randy Seal
For the FCT
The Russellville High School boys’ golf team competed in the sectional tournament at Cypress Lakes in Muscle Shoals and shot a team best 294 to win first place out of eight teams.
The win secured them a spot at the sub-state tournament in Athens at Cherokee Ridge Golf Course.
The top three teams from sub-state move on to the state championship held in Prattville on May 12 and 13.
“These guys have been finding ways to surprise me all year long and Thursday was the biggest surprise of the year,” coach Jason Haithcock said.
“I wasn’t sure this team was able to shoot below 300 but they gave me proof that they could do it. Eli shot 71, Aaron 74, Josh 74 and Blake 75.
“I knew they were capable of putting a great round together but didn’t expect it to be that low. I hope the momentum runs over into sub-state.
“The guys and I have talked this year and they understand it’s harder to make it to state than it is to win state. You have to be one of the three best teams in the North to make it.
“It all comes down to one day and we can’t afford anyone in the top five to have a bad round.”
The RHS girls’ team finished their first ever season with a 10th place finish in the 1A-5A sectional tournament out of 13 teams.
They were led by Morgan Moon’s 105 which was good enough to place 29th out of 64 girls.
“I am very pleased with the girls’ progress this season and I know they have a bright future ahead of them,” Haithcock said.
“With the changes that AHSAA has made in girls’ golf for the future, I can say that these girls will compete for multiple state championships before they graduate. They have to build on the progress they made this year and continue to work this summer and fall.
“They are great group of young ladies They are the future of girls’ golf at Russellville and they soon will build a program that is every bit as strong as the boys program.”
The girls’ team includes: Macy Reeves, 10th grade; Ashton Moore, 8th grade; Morgan Moon, 7th grade; Josie Willis, 7th grade; and Carley Grace McCalpin, 7th grade.