Published: April 21, 2008 01:37 am            

’Cats go for four in a row

Palestine golf looks to repeat at regionals

By SCOTT TYLER

H-P Sports Editor



The Palestine golf team has won three straight regional titles.

The Wildcats look to defend their title this week — but there will be a twist.

After winning three Class 3A-Region III titles in Brenham, the regional tournament has moved this year to Huntsville at Raven’s Nest Golf Course.

The regional tournament will be played Tuesday and Wednesday with the top two teams qualifying for the state tournament.

“Raven’s Nest is a lot like Pine Dunes,” Palestine golf coach Jamie Driskell said. “Pine Dunes may have a little more danger.”

Palestine, which shot a 309 at Pine Dunes in the second round of the District 21-3A tournament, heads into regionals with the top district score of 594.

Four of Palestine’s golfers — Jeremy Lambright, Kyle Woodard, Austin Anderson and J.C. Johnson — were on the regional title team last year and Lambright has been on all three Class 3A-Region III championship teams. Garrett Johnson is the lone Wildcat golfer who will be making his first appearance at the regional tournament.

“Because of our experience, we do not have to worry about the pressure that some teams might have,” Driskell said. “That should work in our favor.”

Driskell said it would be critical the first day to shoot a good score to be in competition.

“We need to establish a good score because you can’t win it on the first day but you can lose it,” the Palestine coach said.

That is how the Wildcats have done it the past three years. In the three Class 3A-Region III titles, Palestine has held a slight first-round lead and then put away its competition in the second round. Palestine has won the last three years by an average of over 33 strokes.

“These five kids know what it takes to win tournaments,” Driskell said. “They know how to get focused when it matters.”

Palestine has played at Raven’s Nest once this season in a tournament and Driskell said they saw how important it was to stay out of trouble.

“It is a tough course that separates the men from the boys,” Driskell said. “It has big, fast greens and if you hit it in the rough, you are going to have to pay.

“The key is to keep the ball in play and if you hit a bad shot, you need to take your medicine and not make it worse.”

Driskell said the toughest competition may come from Gatesville, Waco-Robinson, Hardin-Jefferson and Rockdale.

Gatesville, who shot a 301 earlier this season at Raven’s Nest, finished second last year to Palestine at regionals. Palestine won with a 625 and Gatesville finished with a 646.

The Palestine boys’ squad will be joined this season by a Palestine girls’ team that made regionals for the first time since 2001.

“They are going to use this as experience for them and to help build the program,” Driskell said of the girls’ team. “We want to play the best we can and get our scores down.”

The squad, which consists of Christy Cockrell, Bekah Taylor, Loren Furgeson, Shay Bennett and Katy Rainer, won the District 21-3A title with a 949.

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Scott Tyler may be contacted via e-mail at styler@palestineherald.com

        

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