This spring, Dillon Christian School’s golf team headed out to the City of Dillon Municipal Golf Course with mild expectations, but as they walked off the course for their final practice, they knew this was a special team.
The DCS golf team, led by Head Coach Matthew Adams and Assistant Coach Chris Rice, had a successful season highlighted by having two players qualify for the All-Region team, being one of only two teams in their region to win multiple matches, and qualifying for the state tournament for the first time since 2012.
The team finished second in their region, only one team placed ahead of them, and that team included three seniors; all while DCS doesn’t have any player older than a sophomore in high school. Ryan Stephens, a ninth grader, led the way on the team with the lowest average.
Stephens also placed second in the regional tournament and made the All-Region Team. Hunter McDuffie, also a ninth grader, played good golf all season and was a solid number two player.
Evan Paul, one of two sophomores on the team, who clearly had the longest drive on the team if not in the region, played consistent golf week in and week out. Connor Collins, an eighth grader, started playing his best golf late in the season and really was really an instrumental part in competing for and receiving a State Tournament invitation. Sheridan Rice and Mason Bailey competed hard all season and made huge strides towards being a better golfer.
Coach Adams says the biggest surprise was first year player Ross Carlyle, a sophomore, who came out, competed hard, and was playing excellent golf by the end of the season. In fact, Carlyle, who also qualified for the All-Region team, scored the best rounds at the two-day state tournament down in Myrtle Beach, SC.
It is no surprise that with this young and successful team, Coach Adams is looking forward to next season already. He said, “We are expecting huge things from this group of kids. If they will get out on the course during the off-season and improve their game this summer and fall, there is no reason we shouldn’t be competing for a state title the next two years, maybe even three years. We’re excited to say the least.”