Venn, LR Christian run away from field
CABOT — No one could catch Chase Venn on Tuesday afternoon.
Venn, a junior from Little Rock Christian, logged a 4- under 68 at the Mountain Ranch Golf Course at Greystone Country Club on his way to a seven- stroke victory in the 5A- Central Conference golf tournament.
Playing a solid style of golf on the 6,038- yard course, Venn’s round included 1 eagle, 3 birdies, 14 pars and only 1 bogey.
“I just tried to hit fairways and greens,” Venn said. “It’s a tough golf course if you’re not hitting it into the fairway because there’s some pretty thick rough out here. There are a lot of hazards and lost balls. I knew if I could hit the middle of the fairway I would could come up with a really good score.”
Little Rock Christian produced the top five individual scores Tuesday and easily won the team championship with a 295. Ben Bra n t finished as the runner- up with a 3- over 75. Tucker Teague and Luke Hankins each finished at 76. Thomas Proctor was good for a 77. Pulaski Academy, led by an 84 from Jacob Kreis, was the team runner- up with a 406.
Little Rock Christian senior Briahna Willis shot a 92 to win the girls’ medalist honors. Willis was six strokes better than Whitney Warden of Beebe.
The Lady Warriors won the team title with a 296. Pulaski Academy, with a 389, was the only other school to have enough players for a team score.
The boys 5A state tournament will be held Oct. 4 at the Hot Springs Country Club. The girls 5A state tournament will be held Sept. 26 at the Paragould Country Club.
Venn’s most impressive shot came on the No. 5, a 478yard par 5. Playing 187 yards to the pin, Venn used a six- iron to place his second shot to within 10 inches of the hole.
“I tried to hit a little draw because the pin was back and to the right,” said Venn, a transfer from Columbia, Mo. “I knew everything was funneling left so I tried to hit to the right side. It came off the club really well.”
Venn, who started his round on No. 9, parred the first four holes he played but fell one stroke over par with a bogey on No. 13, a 349- yard par 4.
It was Venn’s only hiccup of the day, but he responded with birdies on No. 14, a 494yard par 5, and on No. 15, a 346yard par 4.
His round ended with him sinking an 18- foot putt for birdie on No. 8, a 371- yard par 4.
“It’s hard to say if that was my best putt of the day,” Venn said. “But just to finish up like that, made it really sweet.”