Strong Showing from McMinn, Central at Golden Eagle Invitational
VONORE — In their first full 18-hole test of the 2025 season, the McMinn County boys' golf team showed promising strides in consistency and depth, finishing fourth overall at the Golden Eagle Invitational held Wednesday at The Links at Kahite.
Led by matching rounds of 83 from Walker Chouinard and Chase McDonald, the Cherokees posted a team score of 346 to secure a top-four finish. Linc Brazzell contributed with an 87, while both Gavin Riggs and freshman Nate White added rounds of 93.
Head coach Jay Johnson praised the balance across his roster, noting the steady improvement from previous seasons. “This is probably the first time since I’ve been coaching that we've had several guys shooting in the same range,” Johnson said. “Last year some of them were shooting in the mid-90s, and now they're down in the 80s. That speaks volumes about the work they put in over the summer.”
Johnson was also encouraged by Riggs’ return from a collarbone injury and White’s debut performance. “Gavin is just getting back into form, and Nate handled his first high school round well. We’ve got more players pushing for spots and a few who weren’t in this tournament who are close to cracking the lineup,” he added.
Just one stroke behind McMinn, McMinn Central finished fifth with a 347 in the seven-team field. Peyton Reed paced the Chargers with a standout round of 79, followed by Landon Harris (87), Garrett Gaskins (89), Jon McDaniel (92), and Elijah Hacker (99).
“It’s only our second round this season, and I think the heat and endurance were factors today,” said Central head coach Daniel Curtis. “But Peyton had a solid day — he was even through eight on the back nine and closed with a par on 18. That 79 is a great sign for us moving forward.”
Walker Valley claimed the team title with a score of 312, anchored by the tournament’s low medalist, Drew Thompson, who fired a 70. Bradley Central followed closely in second with a 314, and Cleveland rounded out the top three at 325. Rhea County came in sixth (354), and Loudon finished seventh (370).
McMinn Central returned to action the following day with its first home match at Ridgewood Golf Club, hosting Meigs County and Sweetwater. The Chargers will travel back to Kahite next Tuesday to face Greenback.
McMinn County is set to compete again on Monday in an 18-hole event at Cookeville’s Golden Eagle Club before hosting Lenoir City in its first home match on August 18 at Springbrook Golf & Country Club.
Led by matching rounds of 83 from Walker Chouinard and Chase McDonald, the Cherokees posted a team score of 346 to secure a top-four finish. Linc Brazzell contributed with an 87, while both Gavin Riggs and freshman Nate White added rounds of 93.
Head coach Jay Johnson praised the balance across his roster, noting the steady improvement from previous seasons. “This is probably the first time since I’ve been coaching that we've had several guys shooting in the same range,” Johnson said. “Last year some of them were shooting in the mid-90s, and now they're down in the 80s. That speaks volumes about the work they put in over the summer.”
Johnson was also encouraged by Riggs’ return from a collarbone injury and White’s debut performance. “Gavin is just getting back into form, and Nate handled his first high school round well. We’ve got more players pushing for spots and a few who weren’t in this tournament who are close to cracking the lineup,” he added.
Just one stroke behind McMinn, McMinn Central finished fifth with a 347 in the seven-team field. Peyton Reed paced the Chargers with a standout round of 79, followed by Landon Harris (87), Garrett Gaskins (89), Jon McDaniel (92), and Elijah Hacker (99).
“It’s only our second round this season, and I think the heat and endurance were factors today,” said Central head coach Daniel Curtis. “But Peyton had a solid day — he was even through eight on the back nine and closed with a par on 18. That 79 is a great sign for us moving forward.”
Walker Valley claimed the team title with a score of 312, anchored by the tournament’s low medalist, Drew Thompson, who fired a 70. Bradley Central followed closely in second with a 314, and Cleveland rounded out the top three at 325. Rhea County came in sixth (354), and Loudon finished seventh (370).
McMinn Central returned to action the following day with its first home match at Ridgewood Golf Club, hosting Meigs County and Sweetwater. The Chargers will travel back to Kahite next Tuesday to face Greenback.
McMinn County is set to compete again on Monday in an 18-hole event at Cookeville’s Golden Eagle Club before hosting Lenoir City in its first home match on August 18 at Springbrook Golf & Country Club.