Griffin Law, Duck Troxell Lead Teams To State Golf Tournament

The friendship between Griffin Law and Tucker Wick dates back to their first meeting in kindergarten, eventually flourishing through their common love for golf that began in their early days of middle school.

They have become inseparable friends and fierce competitors over the years, sharing too many rounds of golf to count, both in tournaments and during their casual games at Council Fire Club.

But after a lifetime together, the end is now drawing near in their senior year. That’s what made Tuesday’s Division 1-AA Region 3 tournament at Bear Trace at Harrison Bay even more special. It served as another mile marker of their journey, with only one more hill left to climb.

To the surprise of no one, the East Hamilton High School teammates set the tone as the Hurricanes shot 2-over-par to dominate the boys team results to win by 19 strokes over runner-up Walker Valley. But it was the battle for medalist honors between the long-time friends where the real drama unfolded.

Law recorded nine birdies on his round against a pair of bogeys to shoot 7-under par 65, besting Wick by a single shot. It was the latest installment of their friendly rivalry, coming on the heels of Wick capturing medalist honors at the recent district tournament.

Law, a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga commit, shot 32-33 on the day, sealing the win with a birdie at the par-5 17^th hole.

A slow start from Wick after shooting 35 on his opening nine was followed by a blistering 31 on the back side including an eagle at the par-5 12^th to close at 6-under 66.

Also advancing to next week’s state tournament in Sevierville are Bradley Central’s Jaxon Chapmon, who shot 1-under-par 71, Walker Valley’s Harrison Yost after firing a 2-over-par 74 and Walker Valley’s Alex Robinson thanks to his 3-over-par 75.

East Hamilton advances to the state finals for a fourth straight year during the dynamic duo’s tenure and sixth time overall, but this one carried special significance for Law.

“Today was our last golf tournament for East Hamilton in Chattanooga,” Law said. “It was the last time we’ll play together at Bear Trace where we’ve had so many rounds for our school. With it being the last one, it was a little bit emotional.”

Helping complete East Hamilton’s return to the state tournament were Isaac Koh (7-over 79), Leo Vazquez (8-over 80) and Gannon Veale (12-over 84). While Wick and Law are the juggernauts on the roster, their success as a team under coach Jeff Stetzler is a complete team effort.

“Those guys are the unsung heroes of our team,” Law said. “When Tucker and I play how we’re supposed to, we’ve got other teammates shoot 75 or 76 to help us win. When you’ve an entire team that can break 80 in high school golf, you’re going to be pretty good.”

But it’s the constant push to improve, the drive to outperform each other on a daily basis that has brought the friendship between Law and Wick to this point of culmination.

“It’s been a battle between us for years, and having Tucker around has caused me to improve my game,” Law said. “I know it’s going to be close every time we play. He helps me stay focused, and it gives us something to fight for every day. There will be some trash talk between us, but we don’t talk about it once we leave the golf course.”

Being able to witness the development of Wick and Law has been a joy for Stetzler as their coach.

“I feel very blessed to be a part of their golfing family for the past five years,” Stetzler said. “These two are constantly driven to get better and to beat each other, but at the same time they are best friends and each other's biggest cheerleaders.

“These guys play together, they practice together, they just do life together. They are teammates through and through.”

In the girls’ region competition, sophomore Duck Troxell earned medalist honors to lead Ooltewah to its first state tournament team appearance since 1987.

Troxell shot 39-38 to finish at 5-over-par 77 to win by three shots over runner-up Elizabeth Cordle of East Hamilton and her score of 8-over 80. Ooltewah senior captain Delaney Ratchford placed third at 10-over 82, while Hixson’s Meredith Gailey finished fourth with a 12-over 84.

Cordle and Gailey advance to the state tournament as individuals, while Ooltewah’s Bailey Greene will accompany Troxell and Ratchford in representing the Owls.

Ooltewah finished with a team score of 15-over-par, 19 shots better than Bradley Central’s total of 34-over-par.

Ratchford will be making her fourth trip to the Class AA state tournament, having qualified as an individual the previous three times.

“Winning region this year means even more to me than it has the past three years because I get to advance to state with my best friends that have all worked so hard toward this goal the whole year,” Ratchford said.

Troxell will be making her second state tournament appearance having competed for Boyd-Buchanan two years ago. She joins her younger sister, Alli, in next week’s state competition. Alli is an 8^th grader at Boyd-Buchanan who will be battling in the Division II-A event with her father, Charlie, serving as the Bucs’ coach.

“I’m so proud of us and it’s evident how all our hard work is paying off,” Troxell said. “I’m also proud of myself for improving my mental game and skills overall. I can’t wait to go to state with my best friends.”

Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com