L-R, Luke Bendall, Tristan Tubbs, Eli Hodges, Cameron DeArman, Joshua Seal.

by Randy Seal for the FCT

The Russellville boys golf team won the Lawrence County Invitational March 16, shooting a team score of 304.

Eli Hodges won medalist shooting a 69, and Luke Bendall finished in the top five with a 74.

Joshua Seal shot a 77, Cameron DeArmen 84, Tristan Tubbs 85, and Blake Bendall finished with a 78.

The Golden Tigers also won a nine-hole match at Twin Pines last week against Lawrence County, shooting a team score of 145.

Eli Hodges and Blake Bendall finished with scores of 35, Joshua Seal at 36, Luke Bendall finished with a 39, Tristan Tubbs at 40, and Cameron DeArmen came in with a 47.

The Lawrence County Invitational consisted of teams from Russellville, Lawrence County, West Morgan, Brooks, and Hartselle.

RHS golf coach Ryan Brewer said he is glad to see his teams finally start to play a lot and to see them start to play well.

“We lost three weeks due to the weather and with golf that is tough on the players,” Brewer said. “Anytime you don’t practice for three weeks it hurts. Golf is all about repetition and getting things in rhythm, so being out of synch for three weeks is tough on the players.”

Brewer said their first match against Muscle Shoals showed that lack of practice.

“We were glad to be able to get out there and play at Cypress and go up against another team like Muscle Shoals, but we didn’t end up playing well,” he said. “They (Muscle Shoals) didn’t seem to be bothered by missing time out on the course for those three weeks, but we played pretty bad.”

The Russellville boys’ team travels to Birmingham, Ala. on March 26 to play at Bentbrook and Brewer said he is excited for the rest of the season.

“Things are about to ramp up for both the guys and girls,” he said. “It is good to see both teams start to get going and start to play well. I know the kids are glad to be out on the course.”

The RHS home course is Twin Pines Country Club and Brewer said it is a great place for the kids to call home.

“They are very accommodating to us,” he said. “They give us everything we need as a team and the kids are able to spend a lot of time out there working on their games.

“The course is in really great shape considering the winter weather we had this year. I mean, there are still some wet spots out there, but it is in good playing condition.”

News Editor Matt Wilson contributed to this report.