Sophia Gambini. (Photo: Tanner Walker/5SP)
To say Sophia Gambini showed unbelievable resolve Thursday and Friday at the TSSAA Division I-AA State Tournament would be a tremendous understatement.
The senior from William Blount overcame rough starts, tough finishes and a lengthy delay to capture an individual state championship — the first in William Blount High School golf history.
Gambini shot two rounds of par-70 at Sevierville Golf Club’s Highlands Course to finish in a three-way tie for first place with Hardin Valley Academy freshman Addisyn Newman (68-72) and Dickson County freshman Poppy Pewitt (72-68).
Those three players had to wait more than an hour to begin their playoff for the title.
But Gambini, an East Tennessee State commit, stayed focused and won it thanks to a two-putt birdie on the third playoff hole.
Being able to process frustration and overcome it defined Gambini’s win.
Look at her first round Thursday, when she carded four bogeys in her first five holes. She steadied herself and then shot 4-under 33 on her second nine to return to par, trailing the first-round leader (Newman) by only two.
Gambini bogeyed the par-5 first Friday but responded with a 4-under-par stretch on hole Nos. 6-10 to surge into the lead.
And when the oil leaked a bit, with bogeys on 12, 14, and 15, Gambini dug deep to finish with three pars and ensure herself a spot in the playoff.
Newman shot 2 under on the last four holes to tie Gambini. Pewitt birdied 17 to pull even with Gambini.
Gambini could have won the playoff on the first hole, but her eagle putt did not drop. She and Pewitt advanced to the second playoff hole with birdies.
Gambini’s length off the tee ultimately paid off on the third playoff hole.
IN OTHER TSSAA STATE
GOLF TOURNAMENT NEWS…
Page won the Girls Division I-AA team title in a playoff over Murfreesboro Central. Both teams finished at 21-over 301, edging Hardin Valley (307) and Clarksville (307).
The Bearden boys golf team finished runner-up in Division I-AA, posting a two-day total of 29-over 605. Brentwood High won at 585.
Cookeville’s Owen Hill won the boys Division I-AA individual championship at 5-under 139. Bearden’s Bryce Harmon (70-78) and Dane Helzer (71-77) finished tied for 10th at 148.
The Knoxville Catholic girls team finished fifth in the Division II-AA tournament. St. Mary’s was the winner at 5-over 283. Catholic shot 321. Hutchinson’s Catherine Bowie won the individual title at 4-under 136. Linzy Johnson (75-84) and Teagan Walker (76-86) finished 12th and 14th, respectively, for Catholic.
In Division II-AA boys golf, Brentwood Academy cooked Sevierville Golf Club’s River Course for two days en route to an 8-under 568 winning total. The Eagles also had the two low finishers, individually. Carter Graham won a championship at 13-under 131 while teammate Andrew Sciortino shot a final-round 64 to finish at 133. Webb’s Andrew Sandberg tied for 15th (7-over 151).
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