STATE GOLF TRACKER (Day 2, 2024): CAK Girls win first state title since 2016; CAK senior Bryson White wins individual state championship

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CAK Lady Warriors
end title drought

SEVIERVILLE — Christian Academy of Knoxville senior Alexis Fishel and her teammates knew the opportunity at hand following Monday’s first round of the TSSAA Division II-A State Tournament at Sevierville Golf Club.

They led by 10 shots with one round to play in the 36-hole event, and they knew their program’s history — that the CAK girls’ golf program hadn’t won state since 2016.

Eight-year droughts might not be long at some schools.

At CAK, that’s an eternity.

Fishel, junior Isabella Coughlin and sophomore Grady Thomas made good on their chance Tuesday, firing a 9-over 149 team total to win the Division II-A State Tournament by seven strokes. The Lady Warriors finished with a two-round total of 7-over 287 to edge Boyd-Buchanan (294), Providence Christian (297), Evangelical Christian (306), Battle Ground Academy (308) and Northpoint Christian (346).

The team title for CAK was the Lady Warriors’ fourth in program history, the first of which came in 2001.

“It feels amazing to know we were able to do this as a team, because I know me and the rest of our team have worked hard to get here,” said Fishel, who placed seventh individually at 7-over 147.

“We knew we had a chance, going into this, that we could win it. And just to see it happen is really exciting.”

Coughlin, who had been battling injury in her wrist, toughed out an impressive third-place finish, individually, at even-par 140.

She shot rounds of 67 and 73 and wound up three shots off the winning pace of Providence Christian’s Isabella Johnson (3-under 137).

“It was hard, pushing through the pain with the soreness I constantly have. But, it was nice to be able to play and cheer on my team,” Coughlin said. “Mainly, through the first 15 holes, it was good, for both days. But the last couple (holes), it just got a little sore.”

Thomas, of CAK, had three birdies and an eagle in her round of 79 Tuesday. She placed in a tie for ninth in the 22-person field.

Lakeway’s Riley Reed (75-80) also tied for ninth at 15-over 155.

BRYSON WHITE BECOMES
FIFTH CAK PLAYER TO WIN STATE

While he was being showered with hugs and fist bumps and congratulations following his win, CAK senior Bryson White still needed a few minutes Tuesday afternoon to decompress from what happened on the final hole of the TSSAA Division II-A State Tournament.

His emotions weren’t ready to match those of the people around him.

He had just double-bogeyed the par-5 18th hole. Hitting into the water off the tee and then three-putting the final green wasn’t how White had envisioned the ending playing out.

“I was kind of confused. I thought I’d won, but I actually didn’t know for sure. I didn’t know what to think,” said White. “I was halfway getting ready for a playoff and just kind of being done with it.”

After he signed his scorecard and the tournament official told him his win was complete, White fully grasped the outcome.

His final-round, 1-under-par 71 — paired with his 69 from Day One — gave him a 4-under 140 winning total and one-shot victory over Battle Ground Academy’s Brady Ray.

Ray had his own troubles off the tee on 18, blasting one right and out of play. White, who was playing in the same group, saw Ray’s shot and maybe compensated for it on his swing and tugged his shot left into the water.

Still, White figured he had a two-shot lead and some breathing room.

“It was a pretty stressful hole. I ended up three-putting,” said White. “But I still got the job done.”

White, a Tennessee Tech commit, made 10 birdies combined across his two days on the River Course. He shot 4 under Tuesday from hole 7 through 15 to take full command of the tournament.

He joins Davis Shore, Cade Russell and Kaleb Wilson as individual champions in CAK boys’ golf history.

“It feels good. Pretty relieving to see the work pay off,” White said. “It feels good.

“I wouldn’t be anywhere without Brad Rose,” White added of his longtime swing instructor. “He’s helped me so much. He says all the right things. I wouldn’t be here without him.”

MORE STATE TOURNAMENT NEWS

Jackson Christian’s boys won the Division II-A  tournament at 10-over 586. CAK was third at 596.

Jacob Rose of Grace Christian Academy of Knoxville tied for fourth in Division II-A boys play. He carded rounds of 72 and 71 to finish at 1-under 143.

CAK sophomore Tanner Varney shot a final-nine, 4-under 32 to jump into a tie for eighth (73-71—144).

Cascade won the girls Division I, Class A, state tournament Tuesday with a 22-over 302 score, which was good enough for a 10-shot win.

Stewart County’s boys won the Division I, Class A, state tournament at 20-over 613. That won by 13 strokes.

For complete tournament scores, VISIT HERE.

The Division I-AA and Division II-AA Tournaments will take place Thursday and Friday at Sevierville Golf Club.

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