FC golfers garner top finishes headed into district competition

Franklin County High School’s golf team took two more statement-making wins last week en route to a Monday, April 17 district showdown in Biloxi that could send the links squad — for the second year in a row — to compete for a state title.

The Bulldogs, on Monday, April 4, faced off against Natchez High School in an 18-hole competition at Duncan Park and easily defeated the host team.

Franklin County recorded a 330 team score with Kolby Cox setting the pace thanks to a low score of 77, which made him medalist for the day.

Tim and Jack Hutto claimed second and third, respectively, with finishes of 80 and 85 while Parker Cupit and Kyle Walker both collected an 88 and Preston Cupit saw an 89.

Tuesday, April 5 found Franklin County in a four-team battle with Wesson, Brookhaven and North Pike in the Ole Brook Invitational in Brookhaven.

In that event, the Dawgs took first place with a solid 326 team finish as Cox, again, led the squad with a 78 in the 18-hole competition.

Preston Cupit recorded a 79 as Tim Hutto completed play with an 82 and Walker wrapped up his day with an 87.

Other FC participants and their finishes included Jack Hutto with a 92 and Parker Cupit with a 103.

“Preston had his best round of the year on what was a difficult, windy day, and Kolby has been steady for us this season,” FCHS Golf Coach Jeff Long said.

Wesson finished second with a 345 team score and was led by medalist Harlan Brewer, a Copiah-Lincoln Community College signee who shot a course-best 72 in the invitational.

Brookhaven High School took third overall with a 377 and North Pike was a distant fourth with a 436.

“This was a good test for us as we get closer to our district tournament on April 17 at Sunkist Country Club on the coast,” Long continued.

He went on to note FC’s golfers must post a team score of 360 or better at district — against the likes of Saint Patrick, Saint Stanislaus and Wesson — for a shot to advance to the Class 3A state tourney being played May 1-2 at the same course in Biloxi.

Last year, Franklin County made its way into the state title tilt and finished eighth overall — a trip that, according to Long, helped propel the Bulldogs’ golfers to want to return to battle for a better showing.

“Making it to state last year was huge for the long-term development of our golf program,” Long added.

“Up to that time, the biggest tournaments our guys had played in were regional events, but getting to play in state-level competition was truly big for us and bodes well for the long-term goals for this team.”

In addition, Franklin County’s Middlefork Country Club in Meadville hosted its annual “FCHS Golf Team Benefit Tournament” on Saturday, April 1.

The four-man scramble event served as a major fund-raiser for the high school golf program.

Sponsors for this year’s tourney included Live Oaks Golf Club, FBBInsurance, Franklin Telephone Co., King’s Discount Pharmacy, Bank of Franklin, Dr. Ben Yarbrough, Scott Business Ventures, Troy Lambert, C.J Cannon-Cannon Holdings,Wayne and Danny Walters and Camp Ridge Point.

“We greatly appreciate this support of our program as we represent our school and community,” Long said.