Panther men’s golf’s first full match is in the books.
Since the first day of the season Ryan Raby’s team has been hard at work, playing 90 holes in its first three weeks. With another busy slate of matches including their first 18-hole round, Franklin entered the heart of their campaign.
After a busy first week including three nine-hole rounds, on Monday, March 3, the team traveled to Laurel Ridge Country Club in Waynesville. There Franklin’s fivesome were remarkably consistent, each finishing no more than three strokes apart. Cole Martin shot the Panthers’ low round at 43, while fellow senior Max McClure shot 44. Tanner Jones and Nico Abbate tied with 45, with junior Braylen Dulicai checking in at 46.
The next day the team returned to the Franklin Golf Course for a qualifying round with its entire eight-man roster. Martin again shot Franklin’s low round at 38, followed closely by Gabe Stilwell at 39. McClure and Abbate placed third and fourth with 42 and 43, with Dulicai (45), Jones (46), Michael Strange (46) and Will VanderWoude (57) in the mid-40s and above.
The next day the team geared up for another official match, traveling to Etowah Valley near Hendersonville. There Jones and Martin both turned in sub-40 scores, finishing in 37 and 38. Abbate and McClure posted 41 and 42, while Stilwell rounded out the scorecard at 46.
Following the Etowah match the team traveled to Sky Valley Country Club for another qualifying round. Jones, McClure and Martin did not make the trip to Georgia, leaving their five teammates to battle amongst themselves. There Abbate outpaced his teammates by several strokes, traversing the difficult course in 43 strokes. Stilwell shot Franklin’s second-lowest round at 49, with Dulicai (52), Strange (54) and VanderWoude (55) rounding out the card.
On Wednesday, March 12, the Panthers crossed the state line again for a full-team nine-hole match at Kingwood Golf Course in Clayton. On another tough course Jones and Martin tied for Franklin’s low round at 40, followed by McClure at 43. Strange (44) and Dulicai (45) were hot on McClure’s heels, with Abbate (48), Stilwell (49) and VanderWoude (52) close behind.
The next day the team returned to Sky Valley for their first 18-hole match of the year. Versus Murphy and Mountain Seven Conference foes Pisgah and Tuscola, Jones finished just two over par at 74, followed closely by McClure at 76. Stilwell (78) and Martin (80) finished six and eight strokes over par, with Dulicai rounding out Franklin’s card at 88.
With their first full match Franklin teed off the latter part of their regular season, which includes 18-hole rounds only from this point on. The team traveled to Springdale Golf Club near Canton after press time March 17 for their first of just three official outings left until the Mountain Seven Conference tournament.
Correction: The March 12 Press edition listed Springdale as the host of this year’s 3A West Regional May 7. The regional will be held May 6 at the Waynesville Inn and Golf Club. That course will also host the final round of the Mountain Seven Tournament April 28.