Forrest’s Sara Browning knows success as the senior has been a manager on the Lady Rockets’ softball team for four years, witnessing a state championship last year and her prowess on the golf course has been proven with a great career as she qualified for her second straight TSSAA Divison I Small School State Tournament as the second individual qualifier at the Region 6A/AA Golf Tournament on Friday at the Buford Ellington Golf Course inside Henry Horton State Park.

“Sara is one of only two golfers (Leigh Beasley Cook) in the history of our school who will make multiple trips to the state championship,” Forrest coach Andy Burkett said. “We are extremely proud of Sara…hard word and determination really goes far and is usually the determining factor in successful high school athletes and Sara is no different.”

“She came to the course every day determined to get better and it definitely shows.”

After a disappointing 87 at the district tournament on Monday, Browning came back with a solid 83 on Friday, including birdies on holes seven and 18.

“I know she wasn't satisfied with her score at district even though she was the second place overall medalist, and she really improved upon the score and then some,” Burkett said. “For Sara, it was all about getting off to a fast start on the back nine, and she did just that.”

“Couple that with the fact that she really used this week to focus on improving her putting and it’s obvious to see the results she was able to reap.”

Buford Ellington has been playing much tougher then the WillowBrook Golf Club in Manchester, something Burkett thinks will be of great benefit to Browning in next week’s opening round on Tuesday, October 8.

“To be honest, from a challenge perspective, Henry Horton played somewhat more challenging last year than WillowBrook and I expect it to be the same way this year,” Burkett said. “Henry Horton is in fantastic shape right now and is truly playing like a championship style golf course, so Sara will be more than prepared for anything WillowBrook may throw at her.”

Browning posted scores of 91-86 for a 177 total and a 16th place finish in last year’s Division I Small School event on the 5,304 tract at Manchester and that experience should help the diminutive righty play her control game this season in hopes of bettering her finish.

“She had the opportunity to play WillowBrook last year and really gained some solid experience from that golf course,” Burkett said. “She learned about how to play certain holes and where to attack and where to play safe.”

Browning’s sister Maggie shot 101 and Ally Blanton tallied 114 for the Lady Rockets, who finished fourth with a 184 team total.

“I'm extremely proud of both of these girls as they exemplify what it takes to be successful in high school golf and really illustrate the value of integrity and team work,” Burkett said. “Whether it’s on the basketball court, the golf course, the softball field, anywhere, I expect big things out of those girls in the future.”

Cascade (175) finished third and Hickman County (166) second while the District 12A-AA and defending state champion Summertown Lady Eagles won the region title as they went low with a 147 total.

Defending state champion Kaley Campbell blistered Buford Ellington with a one-under par 71, Lanie Campbell shot 76, and Karlie Campbell carded a 79.

“Summertown has an unbelievable girls' golf team and I think it’s reflective when you look at the podium and notice that the first, second, and third place individual medalists were all from Summertown,” Burkett said. “They are the defending TSSAA State Champions in our division, and are another one of the reasons why Region 6 A-AA is one of the toughest regions, if not the toughest region, in all of A-AA.”

The Cornersville Lady Bulldogs qualified out of District 12A-AA and finished in fifth place, shooting a team score of 202.

Chelsea Coble shot 100, Braylin Powers had 102, and Kaitlyn Garner carded a 110.

“Coach Peyton Newton down at Cornersville had four very solid girl golfers this year, and that was evident by the stiff competition we faced back at the beginning of the season at the Gary Wells Cup,” Burkett said. “Coach Newton is a class act, and it’s obvious that his work ethic and coaching has definitely impacted the golf teams at Cornersville.”

On the boy’s side, the completion was stiff as Cascade defended their region title, but it wasn’t easy as Perry County (355) gave it all they had before finishing nine strokes back of the Champions (346).

Fairview’s Clayton Williams won top medalists honors, shooting a two-over par 74 to edge defending state tournament individual runner-up Evan Woosley-Reed by one stroke.

“I think the heat and some of the trickier greens were one of the main reasons why some of the scores were a little bit inflated compared to the district scores,” Burkett said.

Santa Fe’s EJ Hill shot 73 and Cascade’s Garrett Rucker had an 83 to qualify in the next week’s individual portion as well as Eagleville’s Bobby Snell, who also had an 83.

“District 11 A-AA was well-represented with Clayton Williams, EJ Hill, Evan Woosley-Reed, Bobby Snell, and Garrett Rucker all vying for the top medalist spots,” Burkett said. “It was some excellent golf, and I fully expect for those five guys to really impress and really represent District 11 A-AA well at the State Championship at WillowBrook.”

Eagleville finished third and the Forrest Rockets came to the clubhouse in fourth place.

Seniors Hunter Ferguson (90) and Connor Lewis (95) led the way for the Rockets while junior Carter Jones had a 96, and sophomores Bryson Smith shot 98 and Sebastian Thompson carded a 103.

“I was very proud of our boys golf team for the way they competed on Friday, placing fourth in our division is no easy task, especially when in the same region as Cascade (5th place at state last year), Eagleville (district champs), Perry and Lewis Co. (District 12 A-AA champion and runner-up) and an athletic and competitive club like Summertown,” Burkett said. “Our boys actually shot the exact same (379) as they did at Districts and it was thanks to some great golf down the stretch for them. Collectively as a team, they gave it their all, and I'm immensely proud of all of them.”