C.C.H.S.Golf: Fighting Cocks Fall Short At Region

September 30, 2008 · Filed Under Misc. Sports Reports 

By SETH BUTLER
Newport Plain Talk Sports Writer

BRISTOL-A season full of expectations and hopes came to a disappointing end on Monday afternoon.
The Cocke County High School Fighting Cocks, who claimed the regular season District 2-AAA championship over Jefferson County, saw their season end with a fifth place finish in the Region 1-AAA tournament on Monday after shooting a total score of 306. The tournament was held at the par-71 Country Club of Bristol.
Jefferson County, led by a round of 69 by Jordan Jennings, won the event by a three stroke advantage over Science Hill. Jefferson County had a total score of 292, and used a Drew Jenkins eagle on the 18th green to fully clinch the regional championship.
Despite the team result, Cocke County’s Trevor Marshall advanced to the state tournament as an individual shooting a one over par round of 72. Sophomore Zach Briggs fell one stroke shy of qualifying for a state tournament berth, after shooting a 75.
The 2008 state tournament will be held at Old Fort Golf Course in Murfreesboro on October 7 and 8.
The rest of the Fighting Cocks team suffered a tough afternoon however, combining for 241 strokes, hampering any chances for a team victory in the match.
Cocke County coach Blake Briggs said the performance was a matter of failing to execute.
“We had a good game plan going in,” Briggs said. “We just wanted to try to hit fairways and greens and not rely on the long shots.
“We just didn’t execute,” Briggs said.
Aside from the rounds of Marshall and Briggs, not much went well for the Cocke County squad, who struggled with the tough course like many other golfers did on the afternoon.
Usually reliable senior Luke Ottinger shot a 10-over round of 81, hitting only three greens in regulation and Jake Shelton shot 78. Shelton played in the three-some that provided the day’s lowest scores, a 69 by Jennings and a three-under par performance by Dobyns-Bennett’s Alex Ratliff.
“I’m disappointed for Luke and Jake because they played hard all year long,” Briggs said. “The last two 18-hole matches we played, they really came through for us in a big way.”
Ottinger provided the team’s lowest score and the second lowest score of the day in last week’s District 2-AAA tournament.
Despite the results on Monday and loss of seniors to graduation, Briggs said he expects to see the team right back in contention next year, just as they were this year.
Briggs noted that this year’s team had fought an injury bug, losing both Seth Moore (arm) and Kurt Brooks (knee).
“We have a lot of sophomores coming (in),” Briggs said. “We had two guys hurt (this year) and we have Chase Atkins and a lot more coming back.
“I expect to be right back here next season,” Briggs said.

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