The Cornersville Bulldogs stayed the course on Thursday at Saddle Creek Golf Club, outshooting Marshall County 202 to 208 to take the Gary Wells Cup away from the Tigers for the first time since its inception in 2012.

“It feels great to have the Cup at our school for this school year,” Cornersville coach Peyton Newton said. “Our team is a very close group and they knew we came into this season with a chance to do this.”

“They have played a lot of golf this summer and that is what it takes.”

Cornersville shot 583 in the three-day event, while Marshall County finished with 598 strokes, and Forrest came in third with 617 strokes.

Raymond Cooksey led the Bulldogs with a 47 on Thursday, Tyler Wolaver carded a 51, and Joseph Mulliniks and Graham Duke shot 52.

“The key to winning the Cup was just grinding three days in a row and keeping our attitudes positive,” Newton said. “We had guys shoot good one day and then not so good the next, but when we had a teammate struggle in a round, someone else stepped up and shot well.”

“That is what it takes to accomplish what these guys did this week.”

Colton Barber led the Tigers with a 41, Walker Whaley and T.J. Beardsley came home in 53 strokes apiece, and Bryson Whaley shot 61.

Barber shot 43, 44, and 41 for a 128 total to claim the Jeff Jones Award given to the player with the lowest three-day total.

First-year player Spence Oliver carded a 51 to lead the Rockets, Hunter Ferguson had a 52, John Garcia came home in 55 strokes, and Carter Jones had a 57.

The top four scores from each boys’ team and the top two for the girls are used for the day total.

The Forrest Lady Rockets maintained their grip on the Gary Wells Cup as they outlasted Cornersville 281 to 307 over the three matches.

Sara Browning, who won the girl’s Jeff Jones Award with a three-day total of 134 shot 46 on Thursday. Browning was also the only player in the entire event to break 40 over the three days, shooting a 39 at the Ewell Butler Golf Course on Tuesday.

First-year player Carissa Curtis also carded a 46 on Thursday for Forrest.

Cornersville hosted Eagleville at the Rec Center on Monday and travelled to Pebble Creek Golf Club in Fayetteville on Tuesday.

There is a long way to go before the District 12 Tournament begins on September 24 at Lawrenceburg Country Club, but Newton is confident that getting the win in the Wells Cup matches will give his squad a lot of confidence during the regular season.

“Well, we definitely have confidence going forward,” Newton said. “We know there are several weeks before the district tournament, so we have to make sure we stay at the course and improve on little things as we go.”

Newton added, “Our ladies team also has confidence they can make a run this year, so we are excited the season is here and I look forward to seeing what these awesome kids can get accomplished.”

It was the first event of the year for all three county schools, which all compete in different districts

Forrest is in District 11 and is in Region 6 with the Bulldogs in the Small Divison classification, while the Tigers play in the Large Division classification as members of Region 4, District 8.

Thursday, August 2

At Saddle Creek Golf Course

Boys

Cornersville (202): Raymond Cooksey (47), Tyler Wolaver (51), Joseph Mulliniks (52), Graham Duke (52), Tilden Jackson (54). Three-day total (583).

Marshall County (208): Colton Barber (41), Walker Whaley (53), T.J. Beardsley (53), Bryson Whaley (61), Mason Collins (63). Three-day total (598).

Forrest (215): Spence Oliver (51), Hunter Ferguson (52), John Garcia (55), Carter Jones (57), Sebastian Thompson (59). Three-day total (617).

Jeff Jones Award: Colton Barber (MCHS), 43-44-41-128.

Girls

Forrest (92): Sara Browning (46), Carissa Curtis (46), Micah Toombs (53). Three-day total (281).

Cornersville (98): Chelsea Coble (45), Braylin Powers (53), Kaitlin Garner (61). Three-day total (307).

Jeff Jones Award: Sara Browning (Forrest), 39-49-46-134.