One of Franklin’s greatest-ever golf careers is at an end.
For the past few years, Tanner Jones has been among the best players west of Asheville, taking part in back-to-back state championships and placing eighth overall at Sapona Golf Club in Lexington last month. Just weeks before his upcoming graduation, the Young Harris College commit recently recounted his high school career. Part I of the two-part interview transcript is as follows, lightly edited for clarity and length.
How did you first get started playing golf? How long have you been playing now?
“I was a big baseballer; I loved baseball, and then I messed up my heel from playing baseball and it kind of pushed me back. I was also big on cross country; those were my two main [sports]. And then one race my heel started popping, and I got put in a cast for eight weeks and then a boot for a little bit. My grandpa – I call him Paul – he took me out to golf sometimes. Every baseball player kind of plays golf, and I was like, ‘This is fun.’ I was kind of done with baseball and cross country after that, so then I kind of picked up golf.”
And when did you hurt your heel?
Like [sixth grade]. I loved running, and I was really good at running cross country. I actually ran cross country freshman year, because it was before golf. Then we started to play golf, and I was like, ‘Man, I'm competing with the ones and twos, and I'm a freshman – where can this go?’”
Did having run cross country help you physically on the golf course?
It did, for sure. … One of the players who went with me to state said it's almost more tiring just walking and watching, because there's no adrenaline, there's no focus, you're just walking; it just wears you out. I think the average golf course is like four to six miles if you really stretch it out, so it’s no joke.
I started competing [at golf] in sixth grade, but we only had one match due to COVID. Seventh grade was cool and then I won conference my eighth-grade year, so I kind of just picked it up and went on with it. It was the top two [rounds] at Cummings Cove and Springdale. I think I went 41 and 37; the 37 was really cool.
That's pretty good for an eighth grader; how’d you get so good?
So much practice, and a lot of mindset changes. One day you can have it all, and everything clicks – driver, wedges, putter, irons. And then the other day, basically my front nine the second day of state flipped over on my back nine. All it takes is for the putter to get cold, and I shot from two under to four over. It can flip just like that, so it's kind of just building off when you have it, and then working through when you don't.
I’d say eighth is still pretty good though, for state.
I’m very happy, and it’s also good going into summer playing good and putting good, and knowing that I can [compete]. Those guys are the best of the best, and I'm right there with them.
Are you proud of having gone to state twice?
Absolutely. We don't have a record book here for golf, but I don't know if anyone has gone two years in a row, so that’s pretty cool.
How did it feel to play the last match of your high school career? Was it bittersweet? What were you thinking in that moment?
My head was kind of everywhere because I was right there with everybody, and I'm thinking, ‘Let's go get it.’ And then if you have a bad hole it's kind of like you get a little frustrated, but it's also like, ‘Man, this is your last round’ – you kind of have to enjoy it. And then you make another bogey and you're like, ‘Oh my God, I'm losing him,’ then you switch back over to ‘It's the last round; you have to have fun.’ So, it was kind of hard to balance it, but I was pleased.
Are you sad to be leaving Franklin, or happy to start the next chapter?
A little bit of both. I’m so, so thankful for Coach [Ryan] Raby and all the assistance, and I did my part golf-wise, but I'm kind of happy to go off to a bigger chapter and hopefully build a good legacy there.
What made you want to go to Young Harris? How'd you get linked up with them?
Coach Raby was actually the biggest part, because I sent them an email and they didn't reply. And then coach Raby sent a kind of follow-up email, and they shouted back out. I took a visit, and the campus is beautiful. They have five home courses; you won't get that anywhere, it's awesome. I think I'm going to play one tomorrow, actually. I've already played it, but it's good to go play it again and get to know it. It's called Brasstown [Valley], so they have Brasstown, Butternut [Creek], Chatuge Shores, Old Union and Mountain Harbor.
Have you been talking to their coach? Has he given you any workouts or anything like that?
I think that's more in the summer, but we talk a lot over the phone. We text about his preference on this or that club-wise, and stuff like that.
How many guys do they have on their team?
Eleven I believe, but some guys are leaving and some are coming in.
What will it be like having to establish yourself on a new team? Will that be tough?
It will because there are so many good players out there, but I love to compete. If you don't make it one week, then you keep practicing until you do.
Sports Editor Will Woolever can be reached at sports@thefranklinpress.com