Photo: Golfers set up their next shot on the green at the Tunica National Golf Course during Tuesday’s MHSAA 7A state boys’ golf tournament. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
DeSoto Central and the Tunica National Golf Course hosted the MHSAA 7A state golf championships, which concluded Tuesday with Madison Central winning the state title.
The Jaguars outshot second-place Germantown (Madison) by 10 shots 613-623 with Tupelo taking third place, four shots behind the Mavericks at 627.
It was a repeat performance for Madison Central, which also won the state championship in 2023.
Hernando had the best finish for a DeSoto County team, taking sixth place with a team score of 653. Lewisburg was eighth and DeSoto Central was 12th.
“It wasn’t what we wanted, but being in the top six in the state is a lot to be proud of, especially with the amount of talent that is in Mississippi now,” said Hernando golf coach William Bentley. “Jayden Owensby had an unbelievable day and was about to finish top three and a medalist when Gutierrez caught fire and made three birdies on the last five holes, including an unbelievable birdie putt on an extremely difficult par four 18th hole.”
DeSoto County’s best effort in the tournament came from Hernando’s Owensby, who took fourth with a 36-hole score of 149. Cal Wier led Lewisburg’s contingent with a score of 161, while freshman Jacob Thomas paced DeSoto Central with a 175.
On a sunny, but windy day on the Tunica course, junior Landry Williamson of Germantown was the individual medalist for the tournament, finishing the 36-hole tournament with a score of 141, six shots better than runner up Jack Morris, also a junior, from Tupelo. Tucker Gutierrez of Madison Central took third with a two-day score of 148.
The MHSAA 6A state boys’ golf tournament was played at the Mallard Pointe Golf Course in Sardis. Olive Branch finished 12th in the meet won by Hancock by 13 strokes over second-place Saltillo. Sophomore Jeffery Smith led Olive Branch golfers with a two-day score of 172 with teammate Colton Lee at 173.
