Teagan Walker of KCHS ties for third as her team places third, and Sophia Parsons of Alcoa ties for 11th
By Dan McWilliams
Lady Irish golfers (from left) Linzy Johnson, Teagan Walker, and Ava Holmes stand with head coach Peter Medlyn as they hold their East Region runner-up award.
Catholic high school golfers stood out at the recent TSSAA girls state tournaments held at Sevierville Golf Club.
The Knoxville Catholic High School girls golf team finished third in the Division II, Class AA state tourney, held on the club’s Highland Course on Oct. 6-7. Alcoa High School’s girls team, which includes Sophia Parsons, a freshman who is a parishioner of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville, placed fifth in the Division I-A state tourney played on the same course Oct. 9-10.
Junior golfer Teagan Walker of KCHS shot 76 and classmate and team captain Linzy Johnson carded a 79 in the East Region tournament at Egwani Farms Golf Course in Rockford to qualify for the state event.
In the state competition, the Lady Irish shot 145 in the first round and 156 in the second for a total of 301, placing them behind champion Baylor (298) and Harpeth Hall (299). Knoxville Catholic led the tournament after the first day with a one-stroke edge over Baylor.
“Our girls had a great season,” KCHS head coach Peter Medlyn said. “They came third in the state tournament, three shots behind Baylor, who also beat them by three shots at the regional tournament at Egwani Farms.”
In the individual competition, Teagan shot 69-72—141 to tie for third overall. Linzy’s scorecard was 76-84—160, good for a tie for 14th.
The Lady Irish team also includes Hannah Heupel, Ava Holmes, and Anna Kate Coatney.
The Lady Tornadoes of Alcoa scored 165-154—319 to finish behind Greeneville, who tied Murfreesboro Central at 300 and won the I-A state title on the first hole of a playoff, Summertown (311), and Signal Mountain (314).
State-tourney golfer Sophia Parsons stands with her family. From left are Riley, Maggie, Jeff, Sophia, Beth, Felicity, and Cece Parsons.
Sophia tied for 11th in the state individually with a two-day score of 84-74—158 as the all-freshmen Lady Tornadoes played in the program’s first state tournament. Sophia earlier shot a team-best 81 to help her team finish second behind Greeneville in the regional tourney held at Springbrook Golf and Country Club in Niota.
Sophia is the daughter of Jeff and Beth Parsons. Mrs. Parsons is the Vocations Office manager for the Diocese of Knoxville.
“One thing I would love to share: Sophia has a special devotion to St. Andrew. It is her confirmation saint. He is the patron saint of golfers,” Mrs. Parsons said. “She makes sure to wear her medal every day. When we woke up for the tournament on day two, she had her golf clothes laid out, and her medal was on the top. That makes my mom heart happy—it is so important to her!”
Top photo: Knoxville Catholic assistant coach Tre Mullins poses with Lady Irish state tourney golfers (from left) Hannah Heupel, Linzy Johnson, Teagan Walker, and Ava Holmes.