BA, RHS, BHS golfers on top of game
By CAROL STUART
For Brentwood Home Page
Don't be surprised if some of the state high school championships in golf go through Brentwood this year.

Brentwood Academy is the defending Division II-AA boys state champ and returns both the individual winner and co-runner-up.

Ravenwood has the defending Division I-AAA girls champion back for a team that barely missed a state team title. And the Raptors boys team is going for a three-peat as district and region champs.

Brentwood High's boys golfers have already won two tournaments this fall and appear loaded for a big run this season.

Here's a preview of the area high school golf season:

Boys golf  
Brentwood Academy:  Dylan Healey, last year's Division II-AA individual state champion, and Taylor Davis, tied for second, should give the Eagles a strong chance at repeating as state champions this season.

BA does lose four seniors that were great leaders, but has golfers able to step up and fill the void, said seventh-year coach Brandon Owen. Newcomers Matthew Broadbent and Chan Schoerke should give the team some immediate help.

"It is tough to expect to win the state championship because our league is so tough," Owen said.  "However, we will be seen as contenders from day one.  It will be fun to play with that pressure.  I am excited to see how the boys handle it." 

The entire league is strong, and the coach believes it's possibly the toughest title to win in DII.  Brentwood Academy finished third in the region before winning the state tournament last year.

Click here for schedule.

Ravenwood:  Seniors Chris Sherry, Brendon Caballero and Paul Kleine-Kracht will lead the Raptors in a chance of a three-peat as region and district champs.

Dan Hollandsworth, in his seventh year at RHS, said the three seniors are "all phenomenal golfers." Sophomore Logan Smith also returns and should come along strong and be a big contributor, Hollandsworth said.

RHS finished fourth in the state tournament to cap off last season. The Raptors coach says Williamson County offers tough competition, especially Brentwood and Franklin.

"The core of the team is returning.  We hope to continue what we have started," Hollandsworth said.

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Brentwood: The Bruins won the Aug. 3 Murfreesboro Invitational and the Aug. 8 USN Invitational -- and that was even without junior Grant Lawrence, who was playing in the Tennessee State Open and U.S. Amateur qualifying in Indiana.

Junior Peyton McClure was low medalist at the USN event at Nashville Golf & Athletic Club. He also shared second-place rounds of 37 with senior teammate Will Joiner and Bruins freshman Chris Tyminski in Murfreesboro.

Joiner is being highly recruited by major colleges, and there are at least seven Bruins with talent to play Division I, said first-year coach John Higgins. Joiner's scoring average was 35.67 last season, and seven players averaged in the 30s -- with all but two returning.

Ryan Grundberg had a 75 at the USN tourney, and Cody Fincher shot 42 in Murfreesboro.  Tyminski has already contributed, and fellow freshman Elliot Marshall is expected to help.

"All eleven players on our boys team are capable of shooting exceptional scores," Higgins said.  "We strive to be the most mentally tough and best conditioned golf team around.  Our goal is to win the state tournament."

Higgins played golf for Lipscomb University and won 18 junior and amateur tournaments. In April he founded Iron Sports Management LLC.

Girls golf
Ravenwood: Class AAA state champ Taylor Manning heads up a Lady Raptors squad that only missed the state team championship last year by one stroke.

Fellow senior Natalie Turk and junior Katie Parrott also return from the RHS team that scored a three-peat as district and region champs in '09. 

"All three are amazing golfers that have had great summers on the tournament circuit," said Dan Hollandsworth, seventh-year coach.

"Hopes are high.  Again, we hope to finish what we have started."

Brentwood will be among the top competition for Ravenwood.

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Brentwood:  Senior Becca Gunger and junior Catherine Doyle are top golfers returning for the Lady Bruins. Gunger shot a team-low 41 at the Murfreesboro Invitational on Aug. 3, and Doyle's round of 94 was a team-best at the USN Invitational on Aug. 8.

Junior Abby Gaudette is also competing for the varsity.

Click here for schedule.

Brentwood Academy:  BA hasn't fielded a girls golf team in a few years, but may actually have one this year. Owen said interest is brewing and the team may form once school starts.

Click here for schedule.