Greenwood High School head golf coach Ronnie Williams and his players reached great heights last fall. The Lady Bulldogs, led by senior shot maker Sydnie Gamble, won the 6A state championship, while the GHS boys finished second behind perennial champion Jonesboro.
But Gamble is gone, having graduated last May and moved on to college golf at the University of Arkansas in Fort Smith. But Ella Austin and Jordyn Lane both return after their state title run, and senior star Evan Griffith is back to lead the Bulldogs.
“Last [season] we probably had one of the best years in golf that Greenwood has ever had, so we are just looking to continue that tradition this year,” said Coach Williams in a recent interview.
The long time GHS golf coach, who always leads the junior high girls’ basketball program, had contemplated retirement after last season, but has returned for at least one more campaign.
The Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs will compete in a conference tournament at the end of the season in mid-September. That tournament will be held in Fort Smith at Ben Geren Park, which is Greenwood’s home away from home when not playing at Vache Grasse.
Lady Bulldogs
The golf teams are usually the first to start their seasons, even before the first week of school, and this year has been no different, with a tournament in Mountain Home in early August. The GHS girls rallied on the second day to overcome a six-shot deficit to win the event.
A couple of other August events were cancelled or washed out by bad weather. However, Greenwood did play Alma last Thursday in Fort Smith.
Jordyn Lane “played extremely well in the Mountain Home tournament,” said Coach Williams. Lane shot an 83. Teammate Ella Austin has also hit the ball very well, said the coach.
Both girls are juniors and third year letterman whose scores have been falling as they have gained more experience. With Gamble graduated, they will have to pick up more of the load.
Jaelee or J.J. Mohetau is the only senior on the team this season, playing her second year with the Lady Bulldogs after moving to Greenwood from Hawaii in 2017. She will bring leadership to a young squad that also features some new faces, said Williams.
Freshman Grace Woody “played phenomenal” said the coach of her performance at Mountain Home. Woody shot a 90 over the first 18-holes, followed by a 41 over the final nine to help them win the tournament.
Another newcomer and freshman, Hally Jones, has only been playing golf for about six months, said her coach, but she scored a 93 at Mountain Home.
Sophomores Olivia Walker and Erin Gilbert both “fell in love with golf last year and continue to get better every day,” said Williams.
Bulldogs
The Greenwood boys finished as runners-up in the state tournament last year behind Jonesboro, which seems to have a stranglehold on the state title, winning the last eight in a row. But the GHS boys appear to have the potential for another title run in 2018.
The Bulldogs showed some very promising signs at Mountain Home, offered their coach. “I thought we played pretty well” said Williams.
Evan Griffith, who tied for state medalist last fall, will be counted on heavily this season, and carried over his prior success at Mountain Home, shooting one under par for the two-day event. He will be the team’s anchor, but Griffith is not the only item in the Bulldogs’ toolbox.
Coach Williams cited the improved play of junior Landon Tuck. “Landon did not play on the varsity very much last year, but right now he is the number two or three guy,” said the coach. Tuck fired an 80 at Mountain Home.
“Bradley Brotherton also played well [at Mountain Home],” said Williams. “I like the way he played.” A senior, Brotherton was a member of the varsity team in 2017 and should be a team leader.
Sophomore Brady Fein also continues to improve and shot an 85 at Mountain Home, said his coach. “He hit the ball well,” said Williams.
Hayden Weaver is in his first year with the varsity squad, and even though the sophomore is new, Coach Williams praised his mechanics. “He looks like he has a beautiful swing and he’s practiced well.”
Williams said that Griffith, Tuck, Brotherton, Fein, and Weaver make up his top five varsity players right now, but he also credited the junior varsity squad. They include freshmen Jake Robbins and Ethan Clark, sophomores Bryce Calhoun and Avery Cole, along with senior Cameron Adams.
They have all done a good job during the off-season, said Williams, and will continue to compete in practice and matches, doing whatever they can to help the varsity squad and improve their games for the future of the program.