Crose, Garnett and Humphrey medal in Class 1A golf title repeat
This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:
Find out how to advertise here - Email us! [email protected]
Gallatin R-5 golfers became the school’s first back-to-back state champions Tuesday when they swept to their second consecutive Missouri Class 1A state title in Columbia. For the second straight year, the Bulldogs shot the best team scores on both days of competition while capturing the 1A crown by a 25-stroke margin over second place St. Vincent.
“The first one was sweet but the second was just as good because these kids have worked hard to repeat,” Bulldog golf coach Tom Garnett said Tuesday night after the team arrived back at GHS to receive congratulations and applause from an appreciative crowd. “Everything that they’ve accomplished in the last two years and in their careers — they have deserved it,” he added.
Senior Scott Crose shot the 4th best score, a 3-over par 75, on Monday and wrapped up his successful career with an 82 on Tuesday to finish tied for 8th in the medalist race. Crose, who has earned a scholarship to play golf at Missouri Western College this fall, placed 7th a year ago in the state meet.
“I feel like we’ve accomplished something no one else has,” Scott said in reflection of a career that includes 4 all-conference honors. “We’re all best friends. We’ve played golf together every day since we were little and we’ve learned a lot from each other,” he added.
Tuesday’s round punctuated what the Bulldog team has been all about. While one player struggled on one side of the 18-hole course, another was getting hot on the opposite side, Coach Garnett said. In the end, it was Gallatin’s amazing depth that slammed the door in the faces of the opposition.
Sophomores Brice Garnett and Jacob Humphrey finished with rounds of 159, good enough for a 10th place tie in the individual medal standings. It was their play on Tuesday that took what little pressure there was off the rest of the team, which owned a 16- stroke cushion after the opening day. Garnett shot even par on the front nine holes and finished with a 76, the 3rd best score of the day by any 1A golfer. Humphrey came through with an even score on the back nine and finished with a 78.
Senior Chad Sullenger shot an 82 (14th) and junior Joey Evans carded an 83 (21st) on the first day to help put the Bulldogs firmly in the lead. Sullenger finished with a 92 on Tuesday. Evans shot an 85 on the final day.
“It’s been great fun to play with these guys,” Chad said in reflection. “Golf has really been an added bonus for me,” he added. “I didn’t pick up the game until later. Basketball has always been my sport.”
The top 5 teams in 1A standings included: 1. Gallatin (321-321) 642, 2. St. Vincent (340-327) 667, 3. LaPlata (337-340) 677, 4 (Tie) Valle Catholic (343-343) 686, and Greenwood (350-336) 686. South Harrison shot a 753 to finish in 12th place in team standings.
The list of 2000 Class 1A state medalists includes: 1. (Tie) Clay Sexauer, Sr., Valle Catholic (73-78) 151; and David Coutchie, Sr., Seymour (74-77) 151; 3. (Tie) Zane Burgess, So., Richland (74-78) 152; and Jon Paulus, Jr., St. Vincent (81-72) 153; 5. Bubs Walker, Fr., Greenwood (78-76) 154; 6. (Tie) Dusty Smith, Sr., Summersville (80-76) 156; and Trevyor Fisher, Sr., Greenwood (82-74) 156; 8. (Tie) Scott Crose, Sr., Gallatin (75-82) 157; and Adam Wilkerson, Jr., Ash Grove (79-78) 157; 10. (Tie) Brice Garnett, So., Gallatin (83-76) 159; and Jacob Humphrey, So., Gallatin (81-78) 159; 12. Nick Pyatt, So., Viburnum (82-79) 161; 13. Blain Cantrell, Jr., Thayer (82-80) 162; 14. (Tie) Rick Seagrave, So., Greenwood (82-81) 163; and Tyler Perry, Sr., LaPlata (81-82) 163.