The Booneville Bearcat golf team started the 2022-2023 athletic season with a one stroke win over Charleston in a nine hole tournament at the Waldron Country Club Wednesday afternoon.
The Bearcats, who had nine golfers o the links, had a team score of 124 with its three lowest rounds, which was a stroke fewer than the 125 by Charleston.
Brooks Herrera shot a 39, matching a Charleston golfer for the lowest round of the day. Also figuring into the Bearcat scoring was Rylen Ray with a 41.
Herrera shot the sub-40 round despite still recovering from a broken leg. Head Coach Jake Fennell said Herrera was permitted use of a cart but will be unable to do so for district or state competition.
Fennell said the injury played into a couple of extra strokes.
“It’s kind of hard to swing when you can’t put weight on your back foot,” Fennell said.
Jace Washburn and Noah Harrel both shot a 44 to complete the scoring.
“Jace’s round was better than the score indicated. He had a couple of holes that inflated it. We’ve got some things to clean up,” said Fennell. “That is the best Harrel has played all summer.”
Charleston’s other scores were a pair of 43s.
Just outside of the scoring for the Bearcats were Peyton Tatum with a 45 and Brett Welling with a 46. Colt Cobb shot a 48 and both Macolen Tillery and Landon Ritchie shot a 57.
Two strokes back in the team standing at 126 was Mena with scores of 40, 42, and 44.
The host Bulldogs were nine strokes back at 133. Lincoln posted a 145 and Mansfield completed the team scoring with a 149.
Leigh Swint was the only Lady Bearcat on the course. Swint shot a 45, which was two shots off the low round.
Charleston posted a 136 team score, which easily outpaced Mena and Lincoln, both at 167, which were the only other schools with enough golfers for a team score.
The Lady Bearcats have five other golfers, Fennell said, but none have played competitively before and due to a lack of practice time, he didn’t feel they were ready.
Fennell expects them to make their debut in a home match on Aug. 11.
Before that the golf team has a date in Pottsville on Aug. 8.
BEARCAT GOLFERS WIN FIRST TOURNAMENT BY SINGLE STROKE
