Samantha Fox, Davidson Academy win A-AA girls championship in record fashion; Sophomore Joey Morefield prevails, propels Marshall County boys in victory run

MURFREESBORO _ Davidson Academy junior Samantha Fox had one objective on Tuesday.

Winning her second Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association state golf championship in three years wasn't it, at least not directly. "I wanted the record (low score). That was my goal,'' Fox said on Thursday shortly after winning the TSSAA Girls Division I, Class A-AA Golf State Tournament Championship with a record-setting 70-70_140.

Fox, 16, toured the 4,941-yard Old Fort Golf Course layout with a 4-under 36-hole total, becoming the first girl to win the tournament with a sub-par score. Runner-up last year after winning the tournament as a freshman, Fox reached her goal by eclipsing the previous 36-hole record score of 144, set at Old Fort by Katie Gallina of St. Agnes Academy in 1993.

Fox' sophomore teammate, Sarah Jacobs, finished tied for second with Melanie Hagewood of Montgomery Central at 156. With Fox' and Jacobs' combined score of 296, Davidson Academy set a 36-hole team record. The previous best 36-hole total was 298, set by St. Agnes in 1993. University School of Jackson finished second at 349, 53 strokes off Davidson's record-setting pace that gave the school its third consecutive team title.

"I think we were very focused coming into the tournament,'' Davidson coach Lori Nappier said. "There wasn't the build-up coming into this tournament that there was last year, and the girls seem to be relaxed and play confidently.

Meanwhile in the boys side of the ledger, first-round leader Joey Morefield, a Marshall County sophomore, posted a 74-73_147 on Thursday to help the Tigers win their first state golf title. Their composite 633 gave them a two-stroke victory over Franklin Road Academy, runner-up for the second consecutive year.

Morefield's 147 earned him a three-stroke triumph over Clark Short of Jackson Christian (75-75) and Meigs County's Matt Robertson (77-73). Giles County's Randy Jones was another stroke back. "I just came here today wanting to shoot par," said Morefield, one of four sophomores on the Marshall County team.

"I a few bogeys, but I had some birdies, too, and never lost the lead. I didn't really feel pressure, but I knew that if I had a good round, it'd help our team have a good shot at winning."

The Tigers were also bolstered by sophomore Matt Brock (76-80_156) as they held off a strong challenge by FRA, who entered the final round of the 36-hole tourney two strokes back.

"This team came in believing it could win,'' Tiger coach Gary Wells said. "It has good balance, and is a close-knit group. To say the least, we enjoyed the tournament, and we couldn't be happier for Joey. He's worked as hard as a young man could, and it showed in the way he played in this tournament."

The Division I, Class A-AA tournament was the first since schools who give need-based financial aid were split into a separate classification (Division II). The Division II tournament was held on Monday and Tuesday at Graymere Country Club in Columbia with The Baylor School of Chattanooga taking the girls championship and Memphis Christian Brothers winning the boys crown.