Pictured are members of the 2019 Tyler Consolidated High School Golf Team.

The TCHS Golf Team began their 2019 season with two 18-hole tournaments last week, and the results show good promise for the young team. The golfers traveled to North Bend Golf Course for the LKC Scramble, and then to Mingo Bottom Golf Course for the Wirt Invitational.

Two seniors are a part of the team, including Captain Anna Griffith along with Gavin Morris. Two juniors include Jackson Kibbey and Isaac Melvin. The lone sophomore is Ezra Reed, and three freshmen include Jesse Griffith, Landen Miller, and Mason Nichols.

After two days of team practice, the team Coached by Joe Griffith and David Tucker competed on Wednesday, August 5, in the LKC Scramble at North Bend. The A Team, composed of senior Anna Griffith, sophomore Ezra Reed, and freshmen Landen Miller and Mason Nichols, finished the day at two under par. This placed them seventh out of ten A teams.

“The scramble is always a fun match each year,” said Coach Joe Griffith. “It’s the only time all year that the players get to play together as a team, and most of them really enjoy starting the season this way.”

The day began rainy but ended sunny and breezy, with the Knights A team having only two bogies in their round, combined with four birdies and a lot of par holes.

“So far this season, we have had a very good beginning,” said Anna Griffith. “The scramble at North Bend was fun and our team worked well together.”

The B Team was composed of juniors Jackson Kibbey and Isaac Melvin, along with freshman Jesse Griffith. The threesome rotated an extra shot among themselves at each stroke, and finished at six over par. This placed them three strokes ahead of the Wirt A Team.

The B team struggled on a few holes, including having to recover from a double-bogie, but still enjoyed the day very much.

“The three of us had a lot of fun, even though not all of our shots were what we wanted them to be,” remarked freshman Jesse Griffith, who has returned to golf after sitting out last year.

“I am super excited about the turnout for the team this year, and I believe that we will do really well as the season goes along,” said junior Jackson Kibbey. Kibbey also returns to the fairways after sitting out a year.

“We are glad to have Jackson and Jesse rejoin the team this year,” noted Coach Griffith. “We will also have Gavin Morris, who has concentrated on soccer for the past two years, but is going to play a few golf matches while also doing soccer. They all three have several years of experience in middle or high school golf under their belts, and they will certainly be of help to the team.”

Team scores for the scramble on the Par 72 course were: Roane – 60; Ravenswood – 60; Ritchie – 62; St. Marys – 63; Williamstown – 63; Webster – 66; Tyler A – 70; Roane B – 70; Gilmer – 72; Calhoun – 72; Tyler B – 78; and Wirt – 81.

Friday, August 7, found the Knight golfers at Mingo Bottom Golf Course for the Wirt Invitational. Ten teams comprised the field, with the Knights finishing 5-4 on the day. Leading the way for the local team was freshman Landen Miller, who carded a round of 97, followed closely by fellow freshman Mason Nichols, with a score of 98. Anna Griffith and Isaac Melvin both shot 109, while Jackson Kibbey had 117.

Team scores for the Wirt Invitational were: St. Marys – 345; Roane – 351; Williamstown – 357; Ritchie – 361; Tyler – 413; Webster – 422; Wirt – 427; Calhoun – 445; Ravenswood – 455; and Parkersburg Catholic with only two players.

“I was pleased with our results at Mingo,” said Coach Griffith. “Our two freshmen-Landen and Mason-really came through for us, even though neither had played the course before. Anna’s score was also a nice improvement over last year, and Isaac was able to equal that score.

“Jackson finished higher, but he still has a lot of solid things about his game that should allow him to very soon shoot rounds that help the team effort.”

“Mingo was a long day,” reflected Anna, “but my round of 109 was 11 strokes lower than my total when I played the course in last year’s state girls invitational. So I was pleased with my score.”

Isaac Melvin was not totally happy with his round: “I want to hit better when I play golf.”

The team record is now 8-10 on the season, which includes two more wins than the Knights were able to achieve for the entire season last year.

Captain Anna Griffith, who started playing golf back in sixth grade and has been on the middle or high school team for seven years now, gave her thoughts on the season ahead: “The season looks very promising already, and I think we will continue to see improvement in both individuals and as a whole team.”

Her coach and father agreed with Anna. “We have had a good first week of the season, and I think that this year, and for the next several years, we are going to see some very competitive scores coming from our players. I am looking forward to seeing what they can do!”

This week features five different matches. Monday, Anna was at a Girls Match at ClairMar Golf Course near Powhatan, Ohio, while the JV Team traveled back to North Bend for another nine holes. Tuesday was the St. Marys Invitational Tournament. This afternoon the Varsity Team is at ClairMar. Friday, Anna will be playing in a Girls Match for 18 holes again at Mingo Bottom.