Bryant golf takes 3rd, Benton 5th
ROCK – Both the Bryant Hornets and Benton Panthers golf teams competed in a match Thursday in Little Rock at Rebsamen Golf Course. After winning their first match in El Dorado to open their season this past Monday, the Hornets would take third, while the Panthers were fifth in their seasonopener Thursday.
Host Catholic would pick up the victory at Rebsamen, scoring a 314, while North Little Rock was second with a 315. Bryant was just four shots off the lead with a 318, while Conway (328), Benton (335), Pulaski Academy (347) and Central (358) rounded out the seven teams.
For the Hornets, junior Logan Mcdonald led the way with a 75, while junior Andrew Gaspard, who tied for medalist honors with a 69 on Monday, shot a 78 on Thursday. Sophomore Daniel Taylor had an 82 and junior Cameron Mcdonald an 83 to round out the 318. Sophomore Landon Wallace came in with a 94.
For Benton, senior Ethan Bearden led the Panthers with a 77, followed by senior Max Bell’s 84. Senior Grant Berry and junior Anderson Dingus both shot 87s to round out the 335, while junior Jay Rogers shot a 90.
“He played good,” Benton Coach Mark Balisterri said of Bearden. “We were happy with Max Bell’s 84. We feel like both of them (Berry and Dingus) can shoot better than that.”
The Panthers look to improve when one of their leading golfers returns.
“I didn’t have my No. 2 (senior Corbin Beard) and he usually shoots in the
70s,” Balisterri said. “We had to count two 87s. With the exception of not having Corbin and if Max plays like he did, because Max is normally our No. 5. If Grant and Anderson play better, we’re right there.
“The biggest thing is from year to year you want all your golfers that are coming back to improve. We have a chance at being decent. I don’t know if we’re going to be state contenders right now, but we’re just wanting to get better and better, and by the end of the golf season maybe we’ll play our best and make a run at it.”
Neither the Benton or Bryant girls fielded full teams as Benton junior Gianna Miceli was the only Lady Panther competing and was solid with an 89, third best on the day, while Bryant senior Brooklyn Waller, shooting a 94, was the only Lady Hornet on the course.
“She shot an 89, which is very good for her and we’re excited about that,” Balisterri said of Miceli. “She’s definitely improved and gotten better.”
But, with Benton and Bryant, it’s tough to find girls to play golf for their home
schools.
“The biggest thing with the girls is we have to find girls that are interested in golf,” Balisterri said. “Nobody really plays golf anymore. Our biggest focus with the girls is trying to get the girls interested in golf and get them out there. We’re looking.
“I’ve got two other girls (juniors Karis Ruddel and Erica Hutson) on the team but they’re beginning golfers and not ready to be competitive. I respect them for giving it a try and we’re trying to get them where they can be competitive.
“We need a big junior golf program again, that’s what we need. Like Longhills used to have to and get these kids interested in golf again. It’s tough.”
Both Benton and Bryant hit the course again on Monday at the Charging Cat Invitational hosted by North Little Rock. Play begins at 1 p.m. at The Greens at North Hills in Sheridan.