By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
SEVIERVILLE – They came.
They saw.
And they have every intention of returning.
Union City’s first-ever venture to the state team golf tournament came with equal parts satisfaction and hope after the youthful Lady Tornadoes finished sixth in the eight-team Class 1A field at the Sevierville Golf Club Tuesday.
The UC contingent – made up of junior Mimi Jenkins and sophomores Alli Kate Frilling and Adeline Rice – unquestionably will revel in their history-making feat this year while also looking ahead to what appears to be a bright future with an all-underclassman line-up.
“This was a good experience in so many ways,” head coach Jason Qualls said after his squad followed up a 180 team score Monday with a 189 on Day 2 Tuesday. “First and foremost, just qualifying for the biggest stage is a huge accomplishment – especially being the first team in program history to do so.
“And secondly, now they know what the state tournament is all about. They know about the work it takes to get here, they’ve seen the course and understand the importance of ball placement, and they’ve gotten any jitters out of the way.
“There’s a lot ahead of them if they want to take the next step up the ladder and are motivated to do so. I’m totally convinced that this year will serve as tremendous motivation for these girls next year and beyond.”
Frilling recorded the Lady Tornadoes’ best score for the second day Tuesday – her 94 (+24), giving her a two-day total of 179 that was good for 19th place in a field of 46 players.
Jenkins – who celebrated her 17th birthday on Tuesday – and Rice tied for 27th individually. Rice shot 95 (+25), and Jenkins was one stroke off that pace as each totaled 191 for the 36-hole event.
Frilling, who fired an 85 with eight pars on Monday, had four more pars Tuesday on her way to a 43-51. Three of those came on the back-nine, where she and her teammates began their rounds both days.
Rice improved five shots on Tuesday’s second-nine and recorded UC’s only tournament birdies on Nos. 17 and 6. She had four pars in the round – three on the first five holes of her back-nine.
Rice carded a 50-45, her back-nine good for 8-over.
Jenkins (52-44) parred four holes on her second-nine Tuesday and had five for the day. She bettered her score by five strokes on the front nine from Monday.
“All three girls had a rough two or three holes today, but they continued to battle and made some good shots and took home some good things they can learn from,” Qualls added. “This course is a real grind, and it should be because it’s hosting the state’s best golfers.
“We might not see many tracks like this in West Tennessee, but there’ll be no shock value if we can make it back here.”
Summertown won its fourth straight Class 1A team championship, edging Kingston by three strokes. Gordonsville Sophie Linder claimed her three consecutive individual title, winning in a playoff to edge Summertown’s Karlie Campbell after both finished regulation at 8-under par.