KINGSPORT – Science Hill will be making its ninth trip to the state golf tournament in ten years and 30th overall while West Ridge will send its first-ever golfer to the TSSAA State Championships next week after the ‘Toppers and the Wolves’ Wyatt Cochran claimed Region 1 titles Wednesday at Ridgefields Country Club.
Cochran is not only the first state golf tournament qualifier for West Ridge, he’s also the first individual region champion in any sport.
“First of all, I'd like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Wouldn’t be possible without Him,” said Cochran. “And my mom and dad for always supporting me. I’d also like to thank Coach (Lacie) Lowe and Coach (John Reed) Barnes for pushing me.
“I’m the first class to go through the school all four years so this means alot to me.”
In fact, Cochran just picked up the clubs about the time he entered West Ridge High School.
“I’ve been playing about four years,” added Cochran. “I wasn’t very good and I want to be good at everything I do, so I just kept working at it and here I am.”
Cochran was seemingly cruising to a victory with a stunning potential score in the mid-60s before a near-disastrous 17th green.
“I was hitting the ball really well and I had a four-putt on No. 17,” explained Cochran. “I just had to bounce back and make par on No. 18 to finish off a good round.”
Cochran finished at three-under 69 as did Science Hill’s conference champion Matt Hogan. On the first playoff hole, Cochra hit four-iron off the first tee and a choke-down nine iron from 149 yards out into a gentle breeze to within five feet of the cup. The short putt gave Cochan the title.
“I’m so proud of Wyatt,” said Lowe. “He’s put in so much work and is such a great kid and golfer. Really happy for him.”
Cochran will tee off next Thursday at the state golf tournament at Sevierville Golf Club.
“I’m just hoping to hit the ball as well as I did today,” Cochran said. “If i do that I’ve got a chance to shoot some good scores.”
Hogan and the ‘Toppers went on to complete a sweep of conference, district and region titles. But one week after cruising to a 22-stroke district win over Tennessee High, the ‘Toppers had to sweat out a two-shot victory over the Vikings.
“It wasn’t our best day, but give credit to Tennessee High, they played great today,” said Science Hill coach Kevin Vannoy.
Will Sanders, Will Wells and no. 5 Isaac Helphinstine all shot 80’s for Science Hill, which finished at 309.
“Not sure Isaac knew it at the time, but he came through with some big putts late to finish at 80,” added Vannoy.
Declan McSeehy and Bryson Hutton both shot 76 to pace Tennessee High to a 311. Both were also involved in a four-for-one playoff for the final individual at-large spot with Volunteer’s Austin Williams and Sevier County’s Beau Brannon with McSeehy claiming the spot.
The other state qualifying spot was claimed by Elizabethton’s Bryson Hardin, who 24 hours earlier had sent word he’d be unable to participate due to the flooding in his hometown of Roan Mountain.
But coaches Zachary Ensor and Jason Holly were able to navigate up the mountain and bring Hardin to Kingsport, where he shot a 75.
“It feels awesome to be able to get out of the house out of the flood,” said Hardin. “To be able to go to state, I didn’t expect it, but here I am.”
2024 Region 1-AA Boys Golf Championships
Ridgefields Country Club - Kingsport, TN
Wednesday, October 2
(top four scores count toward team score)
x-State Qualifier
x-SCIENCE HILL (309) – Will Sanders 80, Matt Hogan 69, Paul Haire 82, Will Wells 80, Isaac Helphinstine 80.
TENNESSEE HIGH (311) – x- Declan McSeehy 76, Bryson Hutton 76, Grady Robertson 81, Owen Jones 78, Cooper Terry 87.
WEST RIDGE (323) – x- Wyatt Cochran 69, Jayden Foster 82, Bo McGee 86, Raider Collier 94, FLetcher Henritze 86.
MORRISTOWN WEST (337) – Greyson Smith 78, Luke Lindsey 89, Riley Shore 85, Jace Collake 86, Sutton Smith 88.
CHEROKEE (348) – Marshall Seal 85, Charles Phipps 92, Carson Waters 83, Caleb Owen 88, Gage Adkins 97.
MORRISTOWN EAST (349) – Hunter Werth 87, Blake Johns 86, Trevyn Beam 83, Brett Carden 93, Ian Hurst 109.
Individuals - x-Bryson Hardin, Elizabethton 75; Austin Williams, Volunteer 76; Beau Brannon, Sevier County 76; Grady Smelcer, Sevier County 78; Bryce Guinn, Greeneville 79; Blake Adams, Dobyns-Bennett 80; Jake Fowler, Dobyns-Bennett 80; Will Carrier, Sullivan East 81; Baylor Creswell, Seymour 83; Lane Seals, Greeneville 89.
