Marion golf continues to compete at high level

Marion golf continues to compete at high level

The Marion Patriot Boys Golf team finished on a high note what started out as an uncertain season.

The Patriots graduated 3 accomplished golfers and replaced them with a bevy of underclassmen.

Exchanging all that experience with such youth, one would expect a dropoff.

However, at the state golf tournament this week at Mountain Home, the Patriots finished a strong third place in the 6A East behind powerhouse Jonesboro and only 3 strokes behind runner-up Searcy. The Patriots secured the last spot for the state tournament and held their own, even though they were never in contention for winning this year.

Junior Conner Catt, last year’s number 5 player, stepped up his game and led the Pats all year. The state event was no different as he shot an 83 followed by a consistent 82. He was backed up by sophomores Cameron Kohl and Gavin Truitt.

Marion fielded no seniors in this year’s varsity team.

While that makes for difficult times for these inexperienced golfers, it also gives them invaluable experience as they look forward to the next two years. Next year, Jonesboro will, in all likelihood, dominate state high school golf. Like Marion, they are losing no one on their varsity squad. While both teams are loaded with juniors, Marion boasts a stronger sophomore class.

Looking at the posted scores from other squads, including Searcy and Jonesboro, and assuming Marion’s underclassmen continue to post scores and improve as they did this year, there is no reason they will not finish as runner- up in the conference next year. Likewise, there is no reason they will not contend for the overall state title in 2018.The program is on the rise. Catt is joined by juniors Skylar Warren and Drew Hutcheson, and Marion’s sophomores include Kohl, Truitt, a dramatically improved Zach Harper, and potential 4th man in Cameron Jones. These 4 plus a crop of upcoming freshmen set the Patriots up for success in 2018.

“There are many people and businesses we want to thank for their support this year,” said Marion coach, Tim Ginn. “Without solicitation, First Community Bank volunteered supplies, Jeremy Smith from The Greens at Marion, and the adult golfers there volunteered to help us wherever they could. If we are able to succeed it will be with the help of the course and the community, and we are really grateful for their support.”

By The Evening Times Sports Staff