Vols, Eagles believe they have improving teams out on course

Two high school golf teams of the area that have resurrected their programs over the last two to three years got to put what it has learned to the test on Monday at the Starkville Country Club.

The Starkville Academy Volunteers are in their third season back on the course, while the Eupora Eagles have returned for their second season.

Both the Vols and Eagles saw some encouraging signs during the Starkville Academy Invitational.

On the way to a 332 as a team for a third-place finish, Doug Cater likes the potential with his Vols.

“This is a young, young team,” Cater said. “Our top four right now are all eighth and ninth graders so those four players as we see them progress through the years, we'll be more competitive with maybe a first place finish. Lamar School ran away with this, but hopefully we can contend with teams like that in the future. The bar has been set with Oak Hill.”

Christian Riekhoff led Starkville Academy with a 78, while Ty Marconi was a close second with an 82.

Marconi said progress has been made in the game.

“We went from high 80s and 90s to now we're shooting lower 80s,” Marconi said. “The irons on the back nine was the big thing and putting. I was hitting good iron shots and I was hitting close.

“The next tournament is what we're trying to improve on with our iron shots and putting.”

The other finishers for the Vols were Barrett Peaster with an 84, Gibson Nickels with an 88, Newt Thomas with a 91 and Charlie Nicholas with a 96.

As far as the Eagles, they had four golfers finish

with a score in the 80s or better. Jackson Knight shot a 79 and Drew Dabbs was next with an 83.

Eupora coach Michael Knight was appreciative of the chance to get his young team on “a good course” against the competitive field of Starkville Academy, Lamar School, Heritage Academy, Pillow Academy, Bayou Academy, Leake Academy, Lee Academy and Washington School.

“I'm really glad we got the opportunity to come over here,” coach Knight said. “It's our second year with a golf team. We had a little hiatus for a little while but got it back going. We've got eight boys and three girls playing and looking forward to good things.”