By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville golf team got the 2014 season off to a good start on Monday, with individual winners in boys’ and girls’ competition at Hickory Creek against Sylvan Hills and Joe T. Robinson.
Red Devil senior Jeremy Wilson tied after nine holes with junior teammate Cody Anderson, both shooting a 37. Jacksonville coach Max Hatfield had his two players play a one-hole playoff on hole 1, and Wilson won it by shooting par.
Only two girls competed, with Hailey Elmore shooting a 38 to beat Sylvan Hills’ Bailey Jabara by 12 strokes.
“I’m pleased as I can be with how they came out and competed in the first match,” said Hatfield. “Now we just have to be consistent. We came out a few times this summer and it was up and down. Consistency is the key to being successful at golf. But this is definitely a great start.”
Jacksonville and Joe T. only had three boys each, so only three scores were counted for team competition, and Jacksonville won that as well with a combined nine-hole score of 122. Sylvan Hills was second with 137 and Robinson was last with 151.
Two of Sylvan Hills’ better golfers were absent after having just finished tournaments at other sites around the state, but Jacksonville will get to test their mettle against the Bears’ best next Tuesday on Sylvan Hills’ home course, The Greens at North Hills in Sherwood.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Hatfield said. “Not only will it be tougher competition, but it’s a tougher course. It’s longer and more difficult. I can’t tell you how appreciative I am of the folks at Hickory Creek though. It cost them money to let us come out there and play all those rounds, and they’re always willing. That’s very important for a program that’s just getting started.”
