Pioneers tee off season at Valley View on Monday

FARMINGTON — Coach Tim Rippy passed out new uniforms and the Pioneers were all sporting a big “G” in the style of the Green Bay Packers.

Rippy seemed happy with the turnout as the Gentry golf team began the season on Monday. Rippy noted the Pioneers had a full varsity squad of four boys, with another four boys competing among the junior varsity ranks, and three girls, more than any school at the match.

The Pioneers competed against Farmington, Lincoln, Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove at Valley View in a match originally scheduled as an 18-hole event, but scaled back to nine holes because of the hot weather.

“You don’t want the kids to be finishing up at three o’clock in the afternoon when it’s 105 out there,” said Farmington coach Randy Osnes.

For the girls, Michaela Milam finished first with a 41, a five-stroke advantage over Lincoln’s Ashtin Calico, who shot a 46. Gentry’s Brookelyn Williamson, a senior, placed third with a score of 50, while Shelby Allen was fourth with a 63.

Williamson said the slight breeze provided a welcome cooling against the scorching summer heat and didn’t hamper her game.

“I did decent,” Williamson said. “The wind felt good.”

“I don’t think I could hit high enough for the wind to bother me,” Allen said.

Pea Ridge, 124, won the boys' team title by a single stroke over Farmington, 125, with Lincoln, 135, edging Gentry, 137, for third place. Prairie Grove had only twoboys competing and did not qualify for a team score.

Rippy had high praise for incoming freshman Mark White, who paced the Pioneers with a 37, good enough for a tie for secondplace with Farmington’s Dillon Jones. Nick Mooneyham of Pea Ridge finished first among the boys with a 35.

“(White's) a very good golfer,” Rippy said. “He’s good enough to be our number one guy although he’s an incoming freshman.”

According to Rippy, White missed two or three putts or his score would have been better.

“He’s having a little trouble with the green today,” Rippy said.

Scott Coleman shot a 47 to tie for 10th place with Prairie Grove freshman Gavin Heltemes and Patrick Haynes of Lincoln. Cody Casebeer and Matt Easter finished with identical scores of 53.