Panther men’s golf continues to rout their conference foes.
On Wednesday, March 20, the team welcomed Smoky Mountain to the Franklin Golf Course for a match with both teams’ full rosters. Despite sophomore ace Tanner Jones missing the outing due to illness, Ryan Raby’s team outshot the Mustangs with ease.
Just three weeks after leading Panther hoops to the 3A state playoffs, junior Max McClure continued to round into midseason form, shooting the lowest round of either team with 38 strokes through nine holes. Illustrating Franklin’s depth from top to bottom, the team’s next-lowest score came from outside its five scoring golfers for the match, where senior Cameron Trubicza traversed the course in just 39 strokes. Junior Cole Martin shot Franklin’s third-lowest round with 40, followed closely by sophomore Braylen Dulicai’s 42.
Hot on Dulicai’s heels were senior Ashton Shope (43) and freshman Nico Abbate (44), with juniors Gabe Stilwell and Will Vanderwoude both shooting 45. Senior Cooper Guffie and freshman Ryland Angel rounded out Franklin’s scorecard with a 49 and a 50, respectively.
Overall, the lowest four of Franklin’s top five qualified scores added up to 166 strokes, easily beating Smoky Mountain’s 197. The closely-grouped nature of Franklin’s scores remains a conundrum for Raby, who at some point will need to select a set top five for postseason play. The team’s top five has shifted for nearly every match so far, chosen by Raby based on results of intrasquad rounds throughout the week.
Following the round with Smoky, the team traveled to Chimney Oaks Country Club in Homer, Georgia, where they began their official practice for the Mountain Seven Conference Tournament. The tournament, in which Franklin and Pisgah will likely vie for first, will take place over three 18-hole rounds from April 22-29. Sky Valley Country Club in Sky Valley, Georgia, Cummings Cove Country Club in Hendersonville and Springdale Country Club in Canton will host rounds.