Panther men’s golf is nearing the end of their conference tournament.
After ending the first round in third place, on April 21 they traveled to Springdale Resort in Canton for Round 2 of the Mountain Eight Championships. With three Panthers finishing in the top 10 overall, Franklin turned in another solid round.
Tanner Jones led the way once again for the Panthers, traversing 18 holes in 78 strokes.
Tying for third overall at six over par, the senior finished eight strokes behind West Henderson’s James Trace for the lead.
Jones’ fellow senior Braylen Dulicai also impressed, tying two other players for sixth at 81 (+9). Despite suffering a minor injury mid-match, freshman Oakley Brooks tied for 10th with 83 (+11).
“Oakley was on his way to a dynamite round, but tweaked his back on Hole 11,” said head coach Ryan Raby. “So he was having some trouble on the back nine, and that’s not an easy back nine to walk.”
After Brooks, his fellow freshman Bryce Bradley also impressed, tying two other players at 18th with 87 (+15). Freshman Reid Willis rounded out the Panther card, tying for 26th with 90 (+18).
As a team Franklin’s top four scores added up to 329 strokes, good for third behind West (316) and Pisgah (318). In aggregate scoring, they were 85 strokes above par through the first two rounds, behind Pisgah’s +53 and West’s +72.
“We would have made up some ground, but West played a really good round,” said Raby.
After the match at Springdale, Franklin prepared for the tournament’s third and final round, traveling to Highlands Falls after press time April 27. They’ll return to the plateau on Monday, May 4, to host the 5A West Regional.