Leopards claim district tournament title, Lady Leopards finish as runner-up
It was a cold and rainy week for the Malvern Leopards and Lady Leopards golf teams as they hosted the 7-4A District Tournament at the Malvern Country Club. But the two squads ended the week on a high note having both secured a spot in the 4A State Tournament.
The Leopards finished the district tournament with a team score of 253 to finish first and earn the title of 7-4A District Tournament Champions. This is the second year in a row that the Leopards’ golf team has finished first to be back-to-back district tournament champions. Malvern golf coach Seth Roberts was proud of how the Leopards competed this season as well as in the district tournament. The Leopards finished the 2020 regular season undefeated. “Our boys finished off an undefeated season with a conference championship,” Roberts said. “They didn’t have their best day but they never gave up and pulled out the win. That in itself made me so proud of them, when things get rough it’s easy to give up and say ‘oh well’ but they kept their head down and succeeded. That says a lot about their character and who these kids are!”
The Leopards season continues October 7 as they compete in the 4A State Tournament.
The Lady Leopards didn’t finish in the top spot, but didn’t go home empty handed as they placed runner-up in the district tournament with a team score of 270. Despite an up and down season, Roberts said that the Lady Leopards never gave up throughout the whole year. “Some tournaments we played great and others we struggled,” Roberts said. “They never gave up the whole year. Numerous times they would come out and practice on their own, not leaving until after dark. They were hitting golf balls on the range with nothing but the headlights from golf carts.”
Towards the end of the district tournament, the Lady Leopards knew that their last member would have to shoot better than a 106. Hannah Carey was the last member to come in and had shot a 105 to give the Lady Leopards the runner-up title. “Hannah Carey was the last to come in and we knew she had to shoot better than a 106 and when she said 105 our teams went crazy, not just the girls team but the guys were happy for them,” Roberts said. “I am so proud of their hard work and dedication this season. They never gave up and I loved seeing their hard work pay off!”
The Lady Leopards will compete in the 4A State Tournament Tuesday at the Sage Meadows golf course in Jonesboro.
The accolades continued to pour in for the Leopards this week. Braxton Allen was named to the 7-4A All conference list and Roberts earned 7-4A Golf Coach of the Year for the second straight year. “I was blessed to named 7-4A Golf coach of the Year for the second straight year,” he said. Roberts added that he is honored to be the coach of the Malvern golf teams and how they represent themselves on the course. “I am so proud to represent our community and so proud to be a Leopard. This is home and I feel we represent Malvern with class and dignity. The best thing I can say about this group is all of the coaches in our conference always brag to me about how good and fun our kids are. I
think they represent us well.”
Malvern Leopards 7-4A District Tournament Individual Scores:
Braxton Allen- 80
Andrew Edwards- 84 Malaki Asher- 89 Seth Stewart- 94
Malvern Lady Leopards 7-4A District Tournament Individual Scores:
Cassie Dedman- 108 Abby Loy- 117 Josie Nix- 116 Hannah Carey- 105