Previewing the Oak Ridge High School golfers, season
Background: In 2008, Oak Ridge High School junior Mason Griffin (69) finished second to Houston’s Cory Gaylord (68) at the TSSAA Class AAA Tournament at Old Fort Golf Course in Murfreesboro after charging back on the second nine with a sparkling 32. Griffin is the only ORHS golfer ever to medal in the State Golf Tournament. After Griffin, only two other ORHS golfers made the Tournament until 2022: Bradley Durand in 2012 and John Thomas Estep in 2019 until 2022.
Last year, sophomore Jack Bentz tied for second at the Region 2-AA Tournament at Green Meadow and then tied for 19th at the TSSAA Class AA State Tournament at the Sevierville Golf Club with a 2-round score of 78/73. To say that this was a step in the right direction for Wildcat Golf may be an understatement: for Bentz, his junior campaign represents the chance to move further up the pecking order in the state.
For sophomores Hunter Hinton and Lewis Niad, it’s a chance at making a similar leap into the top echelons of Tennessee high school golf. Last year, the boys team missed out on the Region 2-AA Tournament by a mere three shots in the brutal District 4 Tournament, playing the likes of Bearden, Farragut, Hardin Valley Academy, Karns, and Maryville. A
According to second-year ORHS Golf Coach Scott Hinton, it’s a good time for the team to make that leap, too. The longtime Robertsville Rams Athletic Director and girls’ basketball coach is no stranger to Oak Ridgers who follow sports. Ambitious and competitive in the classroom, on the court and on the course, Hinton looks to put Oak Ridge Golf on the map.
The Big Three
Jack Bentz (junior): The returning District 4 runner-up shot a 69 at Willow Creek Golf Course to score his berth in the region tournament last year. He’s a multifaceted golfer who’s long off the tee, but also “has soft hands around the green,” according to Hinton. Bentz has a strong putting game, attempting to minimize the three-put by “dying the putt in the hole” rather than risking holing out. Oak Ridge's first state golf tournament qualifier since Mason Griffin, he’s started to draw college recruiting interest.
Hunter Hinton (sophomore): Coach Hinton’s son missed out on a region berth last year but has come on strong for his sophomore campaign. His strong swing makes him long off the tee, but he really shines chipping off the green, according to Coach Hinton. A player who’s “eaten up with golf,” he’s on the course every day.
Lewis Niad (sophomore): Last year’s No. 5 player, Nyad qualified for the region tournament with a brilliant district round. Hinton said he’s the most technical player on the squad, working on his stance and alignment with the help of TrackMan software. He has a strong all-around game.
Boys Players to Watch: Braxton Pemberton (freshman), Braden McNaughton (junior), and Jacob Disney (freshman).
A tandem of improving girls
Kaiya Barnes (junior): An extremely hard worker, Barnes has the potential to make the region tournament. Hinton said she’s put in the time, particularly with her instructor at Fairways and Greens and is hitting the ball much better, with more length off the tee. He sees a score of 45 for 9 holes in her future.
Kaedyn Hollander (sophomore): Like Barnes, Hollander has improved dramatically in a year and works with the same instructor as Barnes. With greater maturity and strength, she’s added length to her drive, but she’s really worked on her short game. Hinton sees the possibility of a score under 50.
Schedule: Wildcat Golf began the 2023 campaign on July 28-29 at the 5-Star Preps Tournament at Three Ridges Golf Course. They’ll play a full slate of six dates at their home course at Oak Ridge Country Club. The schedule includes a match at the Lakeside course in Kingston, as well as a trip to the Tennessee National to play Christian Academy of Knoxville. On Aug. 28, they’ll host the annual Cats and Dogs Tournament with Bearden at Williams Creek. Then pencil in the postseason: District 4 will be at Egwani Farms on Sept. 23, Region 2-AA at Three Ridges on Oct. 2, and State at Sevierville again on Oct. 8-10.
Allen Etheridge is the Oak Ridge High School assistant athletic director and sports information director.
This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Previewing the Oak Ridge High School golfers, season
