E.A. Sports Today

Huskies, Archer runaway winners

Hewitt-Trussville shoots final-round 286, Archer (center) medalist; White Plains third

By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today

GADSDEN — Just how good was the final round Hewitt-Trussville shot in the Oxford-Gadsden Invitational on Tuesday?

Huskies coach Chad Dahlke collected one of his players from one of the farthest points on the golf course and had pleasure of telling him on the ride back the 73 he just shot and most teams would love to post was not counting toward their team score.

The Huskies shot 2-under-par 286 as a team at Twin Bridges Golf Club and won the tournament — played over two courses for the first time — for the second year in a row by 28 shots over runner-up Westbrook Christian.

They shot even-par 576 for two days to win their third straight tournament. Emotionally drained White Plains finished third.

“That’s by far our lowest (round) in a while, the lowest probably in the last 6-8 years,” Dahlke said. “A two-day total of even par is going to win most tournaments. It’s coming at the right time.”

The Huskies placed four players in the top six.

“I’ve played varsity for four years and … that’s the second lowest score I’ve seen in, what, 30-some tournaments in my high school career,” medalist Logan Archer said. “I’ve seen some 295s, 293s, but 290-286, that’s pretty stout.”

Archer backed the 70 he shot at Cider Ridge on Monday with a final-round 71 for a two-day total 3-under 141. He edged White Plains senior Dustin Travis by two shots, pulling away with two birdies in his final four holes.

Archer, a senior headed to West Alabama who finished second in this tournament in a playoff each of the two previous years (for two different teams), appeared headed to another one with Travis. The players were tied with four holes to play, but Archer sank a 25-foot birdie putt on 15 to pull ahead and birdied 18 from eight feet to finish. Travis parred his last four holes.

The Calhoun County medalist got off to a rough start — 3-over through eight holes — but turned his round with three birdies in his next four holes. He found himself tied for the lead after Archer three-putted to bogey 12.

Archer said after Monday’s round he was hoping to pull it off and place a winner’s trophy between the two runner-up trophies for this event currently sitting on his mantle. The two medalists each received a specially embossed ball marker commemorating their achievement.

“I know the true meaning of the win,” Archer said. “It ain’t about what you get, but it’s nice to actually finally capitalize after finishing second two years in a row, losing in a playoff. It feels good.”

Instead of displaying it with the trophies, he anticipates keeping it in his golf bag along with another cherished momento — a buckeye.

“I don’t know to display it on the wall,” he said. “Put a couple nails below it and kind of rest it on there, I guess. It’d be nice to have in my bag and keep it as a good-luck charm maybe, reach in there and pull it out every now and then, give it a good look … and remind me I know how to play some golf here and there.”

White Plains shot 300 as a team in its second round following the death of girls teammate Keaten Beam Sunday. In addition to Travis, the Wildcats counted Dylan Griggs’ 74, Trevor Lane’s 75 and Layton Bussey and Nathan Gilbert both shot 79.

The players wanted to play the tournament and try to win it in memory of Beam. They left the course immediately after the closing ceremonies to attend the visitation.

“I guess it went as good as you could hope for,” White Plains coach Marcus Harrell said. “I think every player has handled things differently. You can definitely tell that we have lost a lot of sleep – a lot of droopy eyes and a lot of people with their head down, dragging around, but that’s understandable, of course.

“I was proud of the kids; they fought really hard. Golf is a very mental game and when you’re mind’s running a thousand miles an hour it makes it pretty difficult.”

Donoho finished ninth and co-host Oxford finished 11th, although Tyler Putnam made the all-tournament team after a final-round 70.

Oxford-Gadsden Invitational
Final round at Twin Bridges GC

Team scores
Hewitt-Trussville 290-286—576
Westbrook Christian 304-300—604
White Plains 308-300—608
Oak Mountain 316-297—613
Bob Jones 315-300—615
Athens 310-313—623
Buckhorn 340-314—654
Clay Central 340-319—659
Donoho 324-338—662
Southside 340-326—666
Oxford 345-322—667
Gadsden City 347-330—677
James Clemens 391-340—731
Hokes Bluff 364-369—733
Munford 448-407—855

Top 10 Individuals
x-Logan Archer, H-T 70-71—141
x-Dustin Travis, WP 71-72—143
x-B.J. Scott, H-T 71-73—144
x-Charley Parvin, H-T 73-72—146
x-Harrison Martin, WC 75-71—146
x-Carden McCay, H-T 77-69—146
x-Reid Baggett, Ath 73-75—148
x-Tyler Putnam, Ox 78-70—148
Reed Love, H-T 76-73—149
John Catanzaro, WC 75-74—149
Brett Batchelor, BJ 76-73—149
Tyler Davidson, Buck 78-71—149
x-All-Tournament

Team results

HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE (290-286–576) – Logan Archer 70-71–141, Carden McCay 77-69–146, Charley Parvin 73-73–146, Reed Love 76-73–149, B.J. Scott 71-73–144.

WESTBROOK CHRISTIAN (304-300–604) – John Catanzaro 75-74–149, Harrison Martin 75-71–146, William Wethington 84-77–161, Matthews Williams 81-79–160, Parker Brown 73-78–151, J.P. Pirani 78-89–167.

WHITE PLAINS (308-300–608) – Dustin Travis 71-72–143, Trevor Lane 82-75–157, Layton Bussey 77-79–156, Nathan Gilbert 91-79–170, Dylan Griggs 78-74–152.

OAK MOUNTAIN (316-297–613) – Harrison Mink 77-73–150, Riley Fowler 81-77–158, Matthew Kelly 89-72–161, Zach Holton 76-76–152, Connor O’Gorman 82-76–158.

BOB JONES (315-300–615) – Brett Batchelor 76-73–149, Austin Chandler 80-75–155, Andrew Cook 79-75–154, Shawn Cromartie 80-77–157, Evan Shelton 82-91–173.

ATHENS (310-313–623) – Andrew Fikes 76-82–158, Will Phillips 82-78–160, Reid Baggett 73-75–148, Justin Vincent 79-78–157, Michael Weed 82-86–168.

BUCKHORN (340-314–654) – Tyler Davidson 78-71–149, Billy Hooper 87-81–168, Caleb Battle 89-79–168, Noah Kennoy 86-85–171, Chaise Allen 92-83–175, Stephen Hundley 110-87–197.

CLAY CENTRAL (340-319–659) – Riley Sanford 83-77–160, Parker Bailey 84-81–165, Peyton Davison 86-74–160, Nick Watts 87-87–174, Blair Bailey 91-88–179.

DONOHO (324-338–662) – Jacob Lecroy 78-76–154, Ross Svensen 76-85–161, Jack Svensen 81-82–163, Robert Clauson 95-WD, John Hutto 89-95–184.

SOUTHSIDE (340-326–666) – Bradley Hindsman 77-79–156, Hayden Lee 86-76–162, Kaleb Yancy 81-80–161, Luke Boyd 97-91–188, Brock Lawley 96-92–188.

OXFORD (345-322–667) – Tyler Putnam 78-70–148, Joey Salonia 80-78–158, Clayton Esty 120-91–211, Jacob Vaughn 95-94–189, Will Turley 92-83–175, Jeremy Allen 83-82–165.

GADSDEN CITY (347-330–677) – Trey Perry 89-79–168, Gavin Deck 87-82–169, Staley Dawson 93-87–180, Seth Perry 88-82–170, Davis Brown 83-102–185, Gage O’Bryant 93-96–189.

JAMES CLEMENS (391-340–731) – Landon Miles 78-79–157, Brandon Roberts 106-88–194, Saurav Archry 95-89–184, Eli Crossen 112-84–196, Brandon Fry 112-94—206.

HOKES BLUFF (364-369–733) – Max Jackson 80-85–165, Hunter Jackson 103-99–202, Justis Brewster 82-88–170, Heath Stewart 111-97–208, Cole Contris 99-102–201.

MUNFORD (448-407–855) – Devin Strickland 95-84–179, Landon Scott 113-113–226, Chris Haynes 118-106–224, Austin Davis 122-104–226, Landon Ashworth 131-127–258.

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