CLEVELAND, Tenn. – Overcoming a pair of lengthy weather delays, the new TSSAA golf season teed off Monday with an exciting battle at the 10th annual Bradley Invitational/Don Burke Memorial at the Cleveland Country Club.
With 18 area teams (nine boys/nine girls) converging, Ooltewah edged Baylor by a single stroke for the girl's crown, however East Hamilton felt right at home in the storm, blowing away the competition with a 3-over-par 291 for a 13 shot tidal wave over Baylor for the boy's title.
Hurricane standout Griffin Law overcame the deluge with an amazing 3-under 69 to claim the low medalist honors.
In the girls, Lady Red Raider Katie Grace Tudor won a playoff over Lady Owl Delaney Ratchford, after both fired 6-over 78s in regulation.
"Both girls parred the first playoff hole and then Katie Grace made a par on the second hole before Delaney had a chance at a very makable bogey putt," explained Baylor head coach Rheagan Hall.
However, Ooltewah prevailed for the team title by a 157-158 margin when Lady Owl Duck Troxell edged Lady Red Raider Allison Horsman by a shot (79-80) for third place individually.
Boyd Buchanan's ladies were just eight shots off the pace Monday, posting a 21-over 165.
Lady Bucs Alli Troxell (81) and Gibbie Kay Cain (84) took the fifth and sixth spots respectively in the individual race.
Bradley Central finish fourth in the team standings with a 175. Junior Addie Geren was eighth individually with an 87 while classmate Colby Ann Turner was right behind her in ninth, shooting an 88. Bearette senior Gracie Sermons tied for 13th overall with a 94.
Signal Mountain, which was fifth in the state last fall, rounded out Monday's Top 5 with a 178.
Walker Valley finished sixth with a 190 as three-time TSSAA qualifier Ainsley Oliver tied for 11th place at 92. Fellow senior Kylie Parks rounded out the Lady Mustang scoring with a 98.
East Hamilton (192), Cleveland (206) and Rhea County (211) rounded out the field.
With most of their team returning from last year's fifth place at the TSSAA DI-AA Championships, the Hurricanes let it be known quickly they intent to compete for the state's top prize again this season.
Along with Law's 3-under, Leo Vazquez shot even par, 2023 individual state runner-up Tucker Wick came inat 2-over 74, while Isaac Kon completed the winning tally with a 4-over 76.
Baylor's runner-up performance was led by newcomer Drew Thompson, a freshman from Cleveland that lives just off the CCC's front nine, on which he shot a 2-over 74 Monday.
Eli Haddock helped out with a 76, with Hale Hamilton and Brett Hogue adding a 77 and 78 respectively.
Signal Mountain took third place with a 310 total, thanks to Benji Lewis and Tucker Cruise both carding 77s, plus Brayden Helle and Scott Schlosser each notching 78s.
Sophomore Harrison Yost tied for the low medalist runner honor with Vaquez at even par to lead Walker Valley to fourth place. The Mustangs also got a 78 from seniors Alex Robinson, plus an 82 by classmate Cooper Lemons. Junior Cason Lannom rounded out the Herd total with an 89.
The host Bradley boys rounded out the Top 5 with a 328, behind senior Jaxon Chapman's 3-over 75 to tie for seventh place in the individual tallies.
Juniors Andrew Suttles and Jacob Rayfield helped out with an 80 and 85, plus senior newcomer Ethan Johansen rounded out the Bradley tally with an 88.
Cleveland came in sixth with a 322 on its home course, behind senior Henry Brown, which won the CCC Jr. Championship last week with a 36-hole 3-under, claiming fourth place overall with a 1-over 73.
Blue Raider seniors Nolan Lowden and Carter Pierce carded 81 and 88, with sophomore Dalton Franklin shooting 90 in his first varsity experience.
Rhea County (341), Boyd Buchanan (370) and Ooltewah (382) rounded out the boy's field.