Polk golfers look to cap season with strong regional effort

Polk County’s boys golf team barely had three players last season. Monday, three Wolverines will tee off in the 2A West Regional.

It’s been quite a turnaround season for Polk County golf.

True, the Wolverines finished fifth in last week’s Western Higlands Conference tournament. But to simply field a team this season, then go out and qualify three players for regional competition, is all head coach Pat McCool could have dreamt back in February.

“It’s been a great season regardless of what happens in the regional,” McCool said. “I’ve really enjoyed it and I think they’ve really enjoyed it, too.”

Polk County’s Dillion Overholt, Gabe O’Brien and Josh Chupp will each swing into action Monday morning in the 18-hole tourney at Maggie Valley Country Club. Overholt tees off at 9:40 a.m., with O’Brien and Chupp in the same threesome at 9:50 a.m.

Twenty-one players will qualify for the 2A state tournament, with 15 of those coming from the top three teams plus the top six individuals not on a qualifying team. Getting one of those six spots will be the goal for Polk County’s golfers.

“One of the good things and one of the bad things is that they play one round of 18 holes,” McCool said. “Whatever happens Monday is what happens.

“If one of the three of them have the day of their life, they might qualify for state.”

More than 70 golfers will compete in the regional, with players from the Charlotte area to Franklin.