©2009 NPT PHOTO BY PAUL MEADOR

The Cocke County Lady Red golf squad, from left, includes Cassidy Gibson, Lexi Clevenger, Victoria Barrett and
Jordan Wood. Gibson, Clevenger and Barrett show off the championship trophy that they took home on Tuesday
after defeating some of the premier high school golf teams in East Tennessee at the Morristown Girl's
Invitational. The Lady Red defeated Bearden by three strokes to take home the title. Clevenger and Gibson
were both medalists.

NEWPORT-The 2009 golf season was the first to start for high schools across Tennessee. And so far, the Cocke County squad has taken no prisoners.

The Big Red and Lady Red were to have opened their season on July 31 at Smoky Mountain Country Club hosting Inter Mountain Athletic Conference foe Cherokee. However, heaving rains earlier in the day forced postponement of the match to a later date.

The Lady Red traveled to Baneberry on Tuesday, August 4, for the Morristown Girl's Invitational, which featured most of the elite high school golf teams in East Tennessee, including Jefferson County, Greeneville, Morristown West and Morristown East, Farragut, Science Hill Bearden, William Blount, Powell, Pigeon Forge, Grainger, Daniel Boone, Knox Carter and Claiborne, along with individual golfers from Knox West and South Doyle.

The tough competition didn't seem to bother the Lady Red squad, however, as they came away with a three-stroke victory over Bearden. Led by Lexi Clevenger and Cassidy Gibson, who both medaled, and Victoria Barrett, the Lady Red carded a 161 on the day with Bearden finishing on 164. Anderson County finished on 173, while Greeneville and Jefferson County both finished on 174, Science Hill on 176, William Blount on 185, Morristown East on 188, Farragut on 191 Powell on 193, and Claiborne and Daniel Boone both on 237.

The Lady Red then joined forces with the Big Red for their first IMAC match of the season against Morristown East on Thursday, August 6, at Smoky Mountain Country Club.

On the ladies side, the Lady Red and Lady Hurricanes battled all 18 holes, but it was the Lady Red who prevailed by three strokes. Using only the two lowest scores for the team total, Lexi Clevenger carded a 41 while Cassidy Gibson finished with a 42 for a team score of 83. Victoria Barrett finished with an impressive 47 while freshman Jordan Wood finished on 56. Kaitlyn Harville finished with a 40 while Courtney Harville finished on 46 for the Lady Hurricanes.

On the boy's side, it was all Big Red, as they cruised to a 17-stroke victory. Junior Zack Briggs led the way for the Big Red with the lowest score of the day, a 36, with Chase Atkins right on his heels, finishing with a 37. Brad Burchette finished with a 40, followed by Jacob Quinton, Seth Moore and Blaize Sams each carding a 41, Jacob Norris and Logan Talley each finishing on 42, and Jake Ottinger on 48. Using the lowest four scores, the Big Red finished on 154. Clay Rutherford, Jacob Long and Dustin Williams each carded a 43 to lead the Hurricanes.

The Big Red will travel to Morristown on Monday, August 10, to play in the prestigious Morristown Boy's Invitational at The Country Club.

The Big Red will rejoin the Lady Red for a big IMAC showdown on Thursday, August 13, when they face off with Greeneville at Link Hills.