The MUS varsity golf team completed an outstanding season with a third-place finish at the Division II State Tournament, held October 15 and 16 at the Pickwick State Park course in Savannah, Tennessee.
The Owls were in excellent position after day one of the two-day tournament. MUS, led by 75’s from senior Alex DeBardeleben and junior Scott Tashie, had pulled even with Chattanooga Baylor, seeking their fourth consecutive state title, and finished tied for first. Other Owl scores included freshman Bobby Hudson’s 78, freshman Alex Synder’s 81, and senior Michael Murphy’s 82. Though these scores were good enough to give MUS a great opportunity to win their first state title since 1996, each player knew that he had a better round in him to push for that championship.
However, on day two, while the Owls still were consistent and played well, they did not shoot the improved scores they needed to claim the title as Chattanooga McCallie won, shooting a combined 609 and finishing 10 shots ahead of the Owls. Baylor finished second, shooting a combined 614 total, while MUS shook off their third-place sectional showing to best the other West Tennessee schools with a 619 total.
Second day rounds included Hudson’s 76, Tashie’s 77, Murphy’s 78, Synder’s 79, and DeBardeleben’s 81.
The third-place finish did not diminish the great season the Owls and Coach Ronnie Wenzler put together.
MUS completed the regular season with a perfect 9-0 record, including some outstanding team wins over Briarcrest, CBHS, SBEC, and ECS. The Briarcrest victory was a narrow two-shot win, while the win over SBEC occurred in a sudden-death playoff as DeBardeleben shot a 34, the low round of the day. Thus, the Owls were perfect heading into the sectional tournament.
MUS tasted defeat for the first time at the sectional tourney held at Orgill Golf Course. The Owls came in third, bested by Briarcrest and CBHS. Though the fourteen-stroke loss to the Saints was difficult for the team, the defeat refocused the team and lit a fire underneath them as they headed to Pickwick and state.
Then at the state tourney, the Owls put themselves in a position to win only to come up a little short.
This year’s team consisted of more than just the five Owls who played at state. In addition to DeBardeleben, Murphy, Tashie, Hudson, and Synder, other team members included juniors Matt Ganier, Will Owens, and Scott Warren, and sophomores Watt Efird and Richard White.
With a good young nucleus returning next year, MUS will again be a competitor for a title.