It was a busy week for Panther men’s golf.
On the week of March 23, the team geared up for a jam-packed schedule, playing matches at Springdale, Maggie Valley and Highlands Falls. Versus all seven of their Mountain Eight Conference rivals, Franklin consistently finished among the leaders.
On March 23, they traveled to Springdale Country Club (Canton) for a four-team M8 match with Smoky Mountain, Tuscola and Pisgah. There Tanner Jones turned in the low round overall, traversing 18 holes in just 75 strokes (three over par).
Pisgah’s Matthew Mehaffey placed second with 76, followed by Oakley Brooks (82, +10) in a tie for third. Reid Willis and Braylen Dulicai tied for eighth with 88 (+16), followed by Bryce Bradley in 11th at 90 (+18).
As a team Franklin’s top four scores added up to 333 strokes (+45), just behind Pisgah’s 327 (+39) for first.
The next day they traveled to the Maggie Valley Club for a conference tournament preview featuring all eight Mountain Eight teams. Once again Jones battled Mehaffey for first, finishing one stroke behind his Black Bear rival and just two strokes over par (73-74).
Bradley and Dulicai tied for 10th at 86 (+14), followed by Willis in 16th (89, +17). Brooks rounded out the Panther card in 25th (97, +25).
As a team Franklin’s top four scores added up to 335 (+47), second only to Pisgah’s 321 (+33). West Henderson placed hot on their heels in third (341, +53), followed closely by Tuscola in fourth (344, +56).
Two days later they traveled to the Highlands Falls Country Club for a scaled-back two team match with Smoky Mountain. There the Panthers dominated their rivals, claiming the leaderboard’s top six spots.
Jones led the way for Franklin once again (72, +2), followed by Dulicai in second (77, +7). Brooks placed third at 13 over par (83), just ahead of Willis (84, +14), Bradley (86, +16) and Zaeden Chavis (89, +19). Peyton Hurst filled out the Panther card in ninth (91, +21).
As a team Franklin’s top four scores added up to 316 strokes (+36), well ahead of Smoky’s 372 (+92). The Panthers returned to action after press time March 31, traveling to Mountain Air Country Club in Burnsville for a three-team match with West and Pisgah.