Trent Mansfield and Madison Balthrop are getting to know the Bear Trace at Harrison Bay rather well.
They both played in the Best of Preps tournament there last Wednesday. They returned Monday and won their respective medalist honors in the District 5-A/AA tournament while helping Boyd-Buchanan sweep the team titles as well.
They'll return to the course by the lake Thursday to defend the Region 3 championships they won last year.
"I thought the kids played pretty good," Boyd-Buchanan coach Ed Connelly said. "The course was playing difficult today. They've scored better than that out here."
The Buccaneers combined to shoot a 329 with Mansfield pacing his teammates with a 7-over-par 79. Jake Campbell shot an 80 while Ethan Hiland shot an 84 and Jack Wood added an 86.
"I started 4 over through three holes; then I got it back together" said Mansfield, who played Bear Trace in 68 strokes during a team match earlier this season. "I wouldn't say today was a solid round. I'm fortunate to come in first. I didn't think shooting 79 would have me as medalist."
Collegedale Academy finished runner-up at 337 with Thomas Hayes earning second in a playoff after matching Campbell's 80. Polk County finished third at 353 to advance along with the Bucs and Eagles to Thursday's regional.
"It was an ugly start for us," Connelly said. "We didn't do real well on the front, but all the guys did well on the back."
Balthrop, who became a three-time district medalist, also found more success on the back nine holes. She shot 40 on the front and then 35 with a bogey at the last. She birdied Nos. 15 and 17 after drives of about 240 yards.
"I feel comfortable here, especially after this," she said. "Thursday, hopefully I'll play better."
The Lady Bucs won with a 169 by combining Balthrop's 75 with a 94 from Chandler Hiland. Sequoyah also advanced to Thursday as a team after shooting 193. The Madisonville school's Carly Swabe finished runner-up to Balthrop with an 83.
All in from 6-A/AA
Everybody who completed their rounds in the District 6-A/AA tournament Monday at Moccasin Bend advanced to the regional Thursday at Bear Trace.
Hixson swept the team titles, due in part to being the only school with a full girls' team.
"It was strange," Hixson coach Earl Cornette said. "We didn't have many players last year, and we had about half of that this year."
The Hixson boys combined to shoot 344 with Tate Truong earning medalist honors with a 78 and Jared Thomas finishing runner-up at 81.
Ali Barker, one of six girls who played, won with an 87. She paired with Madelyn Stanford to post a team total of 188.
"It's not the kids' fault," Cornette said. "They just come out and play. They should accept the gift and know that they're going to have to play better in region."
Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6484. Follow him at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP.