Panther men’s golf is entering the final part of their season.
Following a stellar first half of the year, Franklin returned from spring break with a full week of rest, and matches in Hendersonville and Clayton, Georgia on the docket. After more strong rounds from golfers up and down the roster, Ryan Raby’s team began preparing for the Mountain Seven Conference Tournament.
On Monday, April 8, the Panthers traveled to Cummings Cove Golf Club in Hendersonville for a five-team match. Versus conference foes North Henderson, East Henderson, West Henderson and Smoky Mountain, sophomore Tanner Jones shot the lowest round of any team, finishing 18 holes with a seven-over-par 78. In second overall was junior Max McClure with 80, followed closely by senior Ashton Shope (82) and junior Cole Martin (83).
Together Franklin’s top four shot the four lowest rounds of the day, with East’s J. Parker and Smoky’s Cameron Fowler tying for fifth with 84. Senior Cameron Trubicza rounded out Franklin’s scorecard with an 89.
Unsurprisingly, Franklin’s top four shot the lowest team score of the day, traversing the course in 323 combined strokes. East finished in a distant second with 369, with Smoky (375) and West (406) placing third and fourth. North only had three golfers on hand and was not officially counted.
After routing their conference opponents, three days later the team traveled to the Kingwood Resort in Clayton for a nine-hole match. Versus Rabun County and the Athens Christian Academy, McClure placed first overall with a one-over-par 36, followed closely by Jones (37), junior Gabe Stilwell (38), Shope (39) and freshman Nico Abbate (40). Again Franklin claimed the top several scores for the match, with the top Rabun Wildcat tying Abbate for fifth. Trubicza and Martin rounded out Franklin’s scorecard with a tie at 43.
Following the match in Clayton, the Panthers returned to Cummings Cove for their first of two M7C Tournament practice rounds April 16. The tournament tees off at Sky Valley Country Club in Georgia April 22, with rounds scheduled at Sky Valley, Cummings Cove and Springdale Golf Club in Canton.