Harmony Grove Golf prepares for District Tournament

Photo By: Michael Hanich Za'Kyus Smith looks after teeing off on Wednesday, September 13.

The Harmony Grove Hornets and Lady Hornets golf team finish a short regular season play and prepare for district tournament play. Both the boys and girls team finished their last regular season match at Highlands this past Wednesday, Sept. 13 against the Junction City Dragons and the Parkers Chapel Trojans.

The Hornets and the Lady Hornets finished in second place as a team behind both Parkers Chapel teams. Junior Za'Kyus Smith was the top medalist of the match, scoring a 36. Mason Morgan and Noah Totty were among the top six boys golfers at 46. Emerie Ross scored her lowest round all year with a 46, which was the third-lowest among the girls competing. Kaylee Loomis quickly followed in fourth place with a score of 50.

While the two Harmony Grove teams did build a good rhythm that head coach Blake Williams believes can the teams when district tournament play starts on Monday and lasts through Tuesday.

"I feel like our boys have a good chance of making it State as a team," Williams said. "They can go out there and if they can just they can play and manage the course well, which is a good course over at Glenwood, they'll have a pretty good chance to make it to state, which is a Glenwood the very next week."

For the girls' team, there is a great combination of veteran leadership with the older players and talented young players.

There's not near as many girl teams," Williams said. "If our girls' team can go out there and they can take away their bad shots, or if they do have a bad shot, they can just move on to the very next shot and just forget about it. I think they have a chance to shoot really low and hopefully place the top two district teams."

Smith is the unquestioned leader and overall best boys' golfer on the team. Last year, he was among the golfers as a sophomore in South Arkansas. This year, Smith is among the best golfers in the state and has a chance to get even better. There is a great chance that Smith will finish at state, either as an individual or with a team.

"Smith is our leader," Williams said. "He's our lowest shooter for the year and he's done good all year long and I feel like he has a chance to get the overall medalists at the district tournaments."

Smith, Morgan, Totty and Brody Ray are going to the Hornets' golf team competing at district. The Lady Hornets' golf team will be composed of Loomis, Ross, Bailey Brent and Katie Rae Givens.