East Hamilton’s Wick finishes second in state golf tournament
Tucker Wick finished the high school golf season with a final back nine to remember.
East Hamilton’s standout junior set a blistering pace Tuesday at the Sevierville Golf Club River Course to wrap up the Division I-AA boys’ state tournament.
Wick had six birdies in a span of seven holes and birdied or parred his last 14 holes to finish as the state tournament runnerup with a 5-under-par, 139-stroke two-day scorecard. He shot 71 on the first day and closed things with a 68 on the par 72 course. “That stretch from 2 to 10 was the most memorable back nine of golf I have played in my career,” Wick said. “I just took things a shot at a time and tried to get one more. My putter was really working for me and I was able to control my shots in the wind.
“Before the season, I had a double tear of my meniscus and I was out for eight weeks. I didn’t get cleared to play until a week before City Prep. But it was all worth it. That experience opened my eyes a lot and I became closer to God, which is why I feel it happened in the first place. It made a big turn in my life and happened for the better.”
Wick’s 11 birdies led all competitors at the state tournament and was one behind Brentwood Academy’s Blades Brown, who won the Division II-AA championship at 14-under.
Baylor’s Theo Desroches was outstanding on the final day, too, as he shot a 67 and finished in a tie for third-place at 5-under in the D-II AA portion of the state tournament.
East Hamilton also received stellar play from UTC commitment Griffin Law, who tied for fourth at 3-under and shot a 68 in his final round. He and Wick combined for 20 birdies and each had an eagle along with Desroches and Cleveland’s Tripp Hall.
Baylor took runner-up team finishes in both the boys and girls competition, as the Red Raiders shot 2-over while the Lady Red Raiders finished at 14-over.
Baylor’s Carlee Rogers and Justine Emond tied for fourth-place at 7-over on the Highland Course.
McCallie’s William Burroughs shot even par (73, 71) to finish seventh in D-II AA.