Polk Middle sixth grader cracks top 10 at conference golf tournament

Polk County Middle sixth grader Brody Wilkins finished in the top 10 at the Blue Ridge Conference golf tournament held May 4-5.

Wilkins, the only Wolverine to qualify for the conference tournament, posted a two-day total of 94 to finish ninth. Among all sixth graders, Wilkins finished as the top player by more thhan 15 strokes.

Wilkins had an opening-round 46 at Springdale Resort and Golf Club in Canton and then closed with a 48 at Cummings Cove.

Macon Middle’s Tanner Jones posted a 75 to win the individual title. Hendersonville Middle topped Canton Middle to claim the team crown.

“I’m so proud of what Brody accomplished this season,” said PCMS golf coach Matthew Russell. “It’s his first year of competitive golf, but you’d never know that watching him out there playing. He’s got great composure even when faced with difficult lies and shots. His maturity and confidence match that of a veteran golfer, not a first-year player.

“He reminds me so much of that great group of guys we had come through a few years ago (Casey Beiler, Avery Harden, Evan Jones and Reilly Yoder). All of them just love the game of golf and are constantly pushing themselves to be better, never satisfied with where they are. I can’t wait to see where Brody will be in a few years. The sky is the limit for this kid.”

The Wolverines fielded a young team this season that included no eighth graders. Competing this year for Polk Middle where:

Gabriella Betancourt, 7th
Addie Buss, 7th
Braedyn Davis, 7th
Brockton Davis, 7th
David Duffy, 7th
Tallis Metcalf, 7th
Tomas Santibanez, 6th
Brody Wilkins, 6th

“We have a great group of returning players for next year and zero departing eighth graders,” Russell said. “Our hope is to build on the modest success we had this season and work hard over the summer.

“Our goal is to make the conference tournament as a team next year, and I think we’ll have the talent and the drive to do it.”