BEAN STATION-It was a tournament for the ages, an historical tournament, as it turns out, for Cocke County High School.

For the first time in the school's history, they have a team going to the state golf tournament. The Big Red turned difficult conditions to their advantage Monday at the Region 1-AAA Golf Tournament at Clinchview Golf and Country Club in Bean Station, defeating powerhouses Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett by one stroke and Jefferson County by two strokes to claim the Region Tournament crown and an automatic berth in the state tournament next week.

The Lady Red finished second to Jefferson County, missing out on qualifying as a team. But, two Lady Red are on their way to Murfreesboro anyway as junior Lexi Clevenger will be making her third straight trip to state while freshman teammate Cassidy Gibson will be joining her. Both qualified as individuals.

"It's a dream come true," said Cocke County head coach Blake Briggs. "You work so hard to get to this point through the season, and we're on our way. It's an exciting for the kids, the parents and for me."

Another distinction for coach Briggs, who becomes the only coach in the county's history to take both a middle school team (Newport Grammar) and high School team (Cocke County) to state tournaments.

The chewing of fingernails was common as players, coaches and parents watched in nervous anticipation as individual scores were being posted.

It didn't take long on the ladies' side to find out who would finish on top. Junior phenom Kendal Martindale came home with a one-under par 71 while teammate Lauren Hodge followed with a 76 for a 147-team score. The Lady Red gave the Lady Patriots a run for their money, however, as Gibson was on fire early. Gibson eventually came home with an impressive 74 while Clevenger finished on 80 to give the Lady Red a 154 total, seven shots in arrears of the Lady Pats. Sullivan South finished third on 168 followed by Science Hill on 181, Morristown East on 183 and Dobyns-Bennett on 208.

With the Lady Patriots in as a team, the top four finishers outside of Jefferson County would also qualify for the state tournament as individuals. Gibson was the top individual qualifier with her 74, followed by Sevier County's Katie Mitchell, who finished with a 76. The final two qualifiers were determined in a playoff, however as Clevenger, Aubrey Baker of Dobyns-Bennett, and Sara Howard of South Doyle all finished on 80. The trio started on Hole No. 1, and that's all it would take for the Lady Red's Clevenger, who birdied the hole for her third trip to state. Baker and Howard would need an extra hole before Howard came away the victory becoming the fourth and final individual to qualify.

"Cassidy (Gibson) was on fire today," said coach Briggs. "She really game Kendall (Martindale) a run for the money. And how about Lexi? Getting the birdie on the first playoff hole under that kind of pressure was outstanding."

Named to the All-Region Team on the girl's side were Martindale, Gibson, Mitchell and Hodge, who were forced into a playoff to determine third and fourth place after each finished on 76.

The boy's side was much more dramatic. With three golfers each having already completed their rounds, Cocke County led by the slimmest of margins over Dobyns-Bennett, Morristown West and Jefferson County. All kinds of scenarios were being played out at the leader board in anticipation of each teams final two golfers.

But, Cocke County's Jacob Norris squelched any hope by the other three teams as he walked off of the 18th hole with a 74 for the day. After being mugged by his teammates and coach, his score was posted, and the deed had been done. Cocke County finished on 301, followed by Dobyns-Bennett on 302, Jefferson County on 303, Morristown West on 309, Tennessee High on 311 and Science Hill on 312 in perhaps the closest Region 1-AAA finish in recent memory.

"We battled Jeff County all season," said coach Briggs. "and not taking anything away from Dobyns-Bennett, who had a great tournament as well, we just got it when it counted."

Who would have figured? Morristown West comes away with the Inter Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament title, and the following week, among the same teams, Jefferson County wins the District 2-AAA Tournament championship. But, as coach Briggs said, the Big Red rose to the occasion when it counted, and took home the championship trophy and a trip to the state tournament.

Qualifying for the state tournament as individuals were Jefferson County's Jordan Jennings and Logan Hance, and Dobyns-Bennett's Drew Daniels and Kenneth Miller.

In the run for the All-Region Team, Dobyns-Bennett's Drew Daniels defeated Cocke County's Zach Briggs in a playoff for the gold medal. With Briggs finishing with the silver, Jeff County's Hance and Jennings finished three and four after a playoff that included Cocke County's Norris and Dobyns-Bennett's Kenneth Miller, who all finished on 74.