By JESSE SMITHEY
Tanner Varney put everyone on notice last season.
Now, he’s making them pay attention.
The Christian Academy of Knoxville freshman — FRESHMAN — overpowered Three Ridges Golf Course on Tuesday afternoon, signing for an 8-under-par 64 to claim medalist honors with ease at the Division II-A East District 1 Tournament.
A season ago, Varney made the varsity team at CAK as an eighth-grader. He shot 71 in the 2022 region tournament round and then helped the Warriors win a sixth consecutive state team title by finishing tied for 16th as an individual.
This time around, his splash into the postseason waters was cannonball-like. Collin Keino, the 2023 5Star Preps Masters champion from Maryville Apostolic, came the closest to catching Varney, signing for a 68.
But Varney carded seven birdies and an eagle against just one bogey (his 16th hole).
He made birdies at Nos. 2, 3, 6, 8, 10, 15 and 17. His eagle came on a putt from off the green for an eagle at No. 12.
“Before this, 69 was the lowest I’d ever shot. And then I got going today. I was 7 under through 12,” said Varney. “I was just in one of those zones, where it’s just, like, black-out golf.
“You’re just hitting them close, trying to make putts.”
The CAK golf teams pulled off wins in the boys and girls divisions of the event.
BELOW, you’ll find full-field team and individual scores from area district tournaments from Tuesday. You’ll see which teams won district titles, and which teams and individuals advanced to region play.
Division II-A East District 1
at Three Ridges (Par 72)
BOYS
CAK (287+): Tanner Varney 64*, Bryson White 71, Alex Gaetz 75, Cooper Russell 77, Tyler Stafford 77
FBA (301+): Lane Stokes 69, Max Green 73, Cooper Roberts 79, Luke McGhee 80, Alex Green 82
Maryville Apostolic (324+): Collin Keino 68, Carter Duncan 83, Eli Hebert 85, Sidney Jean-Philippe 88
Grace (330): Jacob Rose 70+, Daniel Walker 83, Reece Morrell 88, Joel Crisp 89
Lakeway (344): Zach Voiles 83, Kyle Oliver 83, Grayson McMinn 89, Elijah Wood 89
Concord (350): Chase Birling 82+
TKA (364): William Rhoton 77+, Taiyo Nishimoto 90, Colt Glasgow 97, Carson Polk 100, Brody Byers 114
Providence (379): Abram Hatfield 79+
Clayton (470)
Berean (inc): Sam Helms 74+
GIRLS
CAK (141+): Alexis Fishel 68*, Isabella Coughlin 73, Grady Thomas 83
Lakeway (167+): Addison Newman 77, Riley Reed 90, Lola McElhaney 93
TKA (188+): Lilly McKinney 82, Maggie McKinney 106, Sophie Lawson 110
Clayton (217): Aubrey Simmons 102+, Ellie Rittenhouse 115+, Willa Rogers 126
Providence (217): Chloe Wilcox 102+, Jenna Ringley 115 Sadie Prudhomme 123
Concord (293): Esther Pattison 129, Cadence Vick 164
Grace (inc): Lydia Walker 101+
FBA (inc): Ainsley Burnette 113+
+ denotes advancement to region tournament
* denotes medalist
District 3-A Tournament
at Lakeside (Par 70)
BOYS
Kingston (279+): Bacon 68*, Arneson 70, Backus 70, Jones 71, Chandler 74
Oliver Springs (366+): Boeke 83, Brumett 85, Daugherty 95, Adkins 103
Oneida (372+): West 77, Kline 87, Tyra 102, Rector 106
Harriman (385): Roberts 91+, Butler 92+, K. Butler 98+, Bowlin 104+
Midway (inc.): Queener 105, Creswell 118
Rockwood (inc.): Snipes 100+, Parrish 115, Teto 116
+ denotes advancement to region tournament
* denotes medalist
GIRLS
Kingston (148+): Crouse 72*, Lane 76
Midway (264+): Snider 121, Brown 143
Harriman (inc.): Cagle 147+
+ denotes advancement to region tournament
* denotes medalist
District 2-AA Tournament
at Clinchview Golf Club (Par 72)
BOYS
Cherokee (322+): Tanner McPeek 73*, Marshall Seals 81, Aden Phipps 84, Gage Adkins 84
Morristown West (330+): Todd Greene 79, Riley Short 82, Luke Lindsey 84, Greyson Smith 85
Morristown East (336+): Hunter Worth 81, Parker Spoone 82, Trevyn Beam 82, Blake Johns 91
Seymour (352): Baylor Creswell 80+, Aiden McPherson 88, Reece Myrick 91, Reed Bull 93
Jefferson County (353): Cole Osborne 85, Tyler McMahan 85, Brody Jones 91, Coleman Sanders 92
Sevier County (353): Hunter McCarter 83+, Dylan Perry 86, Luke Craft 92, John Rippetoe 92
Grainger (362): Kade Williams 83+, Lane Seals 88, Hadley Johnson 89, Linx Moore 102
Greeneville (383): Bryce Guinn 80+, Connor Slayton 94, Thomas Coles 98, Conner Shipley 101
Northview (inc.): McKaleb Harkleroad 82+, Ben Pickel 87, Dylan Harkleroad 105
Cocke County (inc.): Lofton Ford 123
+ denotes advancement to region tournament
* denotes medalist
GIRLS
Jefferson County (179+): Emily Royston 83*, Sarah Howard 96
Northview (181+): Rylee Rowell 87, Ashlynn Rawlings 94, Oddie Mayfield 94
Greeneville (193+): Brylee Catron 84, Cora Broyles 109
Seymour (203): Estella Gresham 101+, Hannah Hall 102+, Ava West 102
Cocke County (204): Jeslyn Suwardika 91+, Jacelyn Waits 113
Morristown East (206): Sydney Courtney 85+, McKinlee Hamilton 121
Sevier County (207): Addison Wyrick 101+, Carley Miller 106
Grainger (216): Ryan Lerchen 105, Kelsie Davis 111
Cherokee (inc.): Lilli Barker 105
+ denotes advancement to region tournament
* denotes medalist
District 3-AA Tournament
Details + Scores HERE.
District 4-AA Tournament
at Egwani Golf Course (Par 70)
BOYS
Bearden (300+): Bryce Harmon 70, Jaden Morrell 73, Charlie Culbertson 77, Conner Hall 80, Gray Loftin 80
Hardin Valley (302+): Jacob Sheffield 69, Conner Williams 72, Eli Glenn 80, Griffen Shipley 81
Maryville (304+): Leo Huddleston 74, Jack O’Quinn 76, Wyatt Johnson 76, Brady Orr 78, Owen King 78
Farragut (308): Owen Queener 73+, Hudson Capps 77, Brady Harville 79, Teague Rector 79
Oak Ridge (316): Lewis Niad 69*+, Jackson Bentz 71+, Hunter Hinton 77, Braden McNaughton 99
Lenoir City (321): Alexander Barton 75+, Garin Veinot 76, Anders Julian 82, Brody Littleton 88
Heritage (388): Thomas McCaughlin 93, Ryan Ilardi 97, Jakob Pierce 99, Brody Carver 99
William Blount (406): Bryson Webb 87, Ty Goins 98, Nicholas Laugherty 109, Perry Sumpter 112
Karns (inc.): Blake Dawson 73+, Jackson Hawkins 81
South-Doyle (inc.): Matthew Brantley 85
+ denotes advancement to region tournament
* denotes medalist
GIRLS
Maryville (164+): April Johnson 81, Rylee Tucker 83, Caroline Beeler 92
Bearden (167+): Maya Hira 81, Addi Kammann 86, Tessa Larmee 87
Farragut (171+): Harper Holmes 85, Sydney Romer 86
Hardin Valley (179): Leona Patel 86+, Rylee Taylor 93+
Heritage (215): Sophia Gambini 77*+, Macey Brewer 138
William Blount (239): Natalie Etherton 99+, Alyssa Brown 140
Oak Ridge (inc.): Kaiya Barnes 138
South-Doyle (inc.): Faith Penner 119+
+ denotes advancement to region tournament
* denotes medalist