Hurricanes, Lady Mustangs win 5-AAA golf

photo District 5-AAA girls' medalist Cleveland's Heidi Barringer hits her drive at No. 12 on Monday at Bear Trace at Harrison Bay. She and the Lady Blue Raiders finished second as a team after a playoff with Walker Valley.

Heidi Barringer played 21 holes of golf during the District 5-AAA golf tournament at the Bear Trace at Harrison Bay.

So did Cleveland teammate Rheagan Hall.

All the girls playing for Walker Valley did, too.

The cart guys at the course were almost begging for the playoff to end so they could end their work shift Monday.

Eventually, it did, with Walker Valley claiming the big plaque when Kelsey Cassada made a birdie in a sudden-death playoff with the Lady Blue Raiders.

Soddy-Daisy placed third and also advanced to the region tournament next Monday at the same course, with a team trip to the state tournament on the line.

"I'm proud of them," Walker Valley coach Bob Williams said. "That's what they're capable of. Tying Cleveland through 18 holes, then playing three more in a playoff is a lot of pressure for them."

Cleveland senior Barringer was the medalist with a 7-over-par 79, then teamed with freshman Hall in the playoff.

"I didn't play that good on the front," Barringer said. "I missed a once-inch putt. Then I was mad. I tried to forget about it on the back. I did."

The Lady Mustangs' counting scores came from Cassada, who shot 80 in regulation, and Katie Medley, who shot 82.

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"This is our second year in a row to win district, and it was more difficult this time," Cassada said. "I was always thinking that I needed to hit it out there and get on the green and two-putt or make a birdie."

And with a birdie she ended the event.

The East Hamilton team already posed for pictures with the boys' trophy before the girls' playoff started.

The Hurricanes -- coach Jeff Stetzler in particular -- were waiting until the last man in their lineup posted a score. They waited beside the 18th green to see how Jeremy Kimbrough would finish.

Better than expected. An 82 from Kimbrough gave the Hurricanes a one-stroke win over Walker Valley, 303 to 304.

That score, from the No. 5 man in the lineup, counted. So did the 4-under 68 from medalist Tucker Venable.

"This is our low total of the year, and we know it will take that or better to go to state," Stetzler said. "If we weren't on our game, we wouldn't have advanced. I got good play out of the Venable brothers, and that's what made the difference."

Alec Leffew shot a 76 and Tyson Venable had a 77 for East Hamilton. Dylan Lillard's 70 led the Mustangs.

Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6484. Follow him at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP.

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