FROM THE TEE

An end and a beginning

Ivery much appreciate the enthusiasm that poured out from so many as our Central Alabama Community College Men’s Golf Team progressed throughout this past year. Through our regular season in the fall and spring and our first two of three post-season tournaments, this year’s Trojan Golf Team earned more tournament wins than any previous year’s CACC Golf Team since I began coaching in 2001. The boys chalked up 10 team victories, one runner-up and one third place finish. In post-season, we handedly won the ACCC Conference Championship and the Southeastern District Championship.

This past fall, our CACC Trojans set an all-time college golf low team score record for a 54-hole event when we played in the NCAA DII tournament hosted by Delta State University. Hayden Carner and Tanner Guthrie both individually won two tournaments, earned PING All-American honors and All-American Athletic Scholar recognition. Teammate Dawson Farni also earned this academic award. The trophies this year’s team accumulated were so heavy that the display shelf gave way and crashed to the floor one night, leaving me a day of piecing those trophies back together with Gorilla Glue and resetting the shelf with stronger anchor bolts in the cinderblock wall.

We had this wonderful year rolling along; and then, we traveled to Odessa, Texas, for our national championship tournament. The tournament was held at Odessa Country Club, which had $5 million of renovations to the golf course since we played there in 2011. During the two practice rounds, one early morning and one midafternoon, we enjoyed 103-degree temperatures. The wind was blowing at an average speed of 20 miles per hour, which is relatively normal for Odessa this time of year. The golf course layout, as the rest of Odessa, was flat with only inches of change in elevation. The tallest trees were possibly 12 feet tall, and the area had not had rain for nine months. The golf course was playing firm and fast. Downwind, the boys were hitting 300-yard 3-iron shots into the wind, their normal shot distances were decreased up to 30 yards. Even with this vast change in conditions from Alabama golf, the boys got off to a reasonably solid start.

Tuesday, day one of nationals, we played a very typical round for us – solid and within reach of the leaders. Wednesday, day two, was another story.

We were greeted with winds of 30 miles per hour and gusts up to 40 and 45 miles per hour. This aggressive wind shocked my players. As much as they tried to be gritty, the weather had them frazzled. We adjust to winds well at Willow Point, but in Odessa – wind comes at you on a whole different level. In cross-winds, players were aiming 40 yards left and right of their intended targets. As much as they tried to hit low shots through the wind, or hitting a pitching wedge 200 yards downwind, we just did not adapt.

On this day, we played the worst round of the year. There’s an old saying: “You can’t win a tournament in the first or second round (of a four-round tournament), but you can lose it.” We fell so far back from the leaders that we were no longer in contention to win this tournament.

But even after that very poor second-day round of golf, I was very proud in our players’ pride and integrity because they scored the lowest in the field on the third

day and finished with a respectful final round. Battling intently throughout the week was Tanner Guthrie, who finished tied 14th in this 115-man tournament.

During this 2021-2022 academic year, our CACC Men’s Trojan Golfers played in 13 tournaments throughout the fall and spring seasons. Of the 13, they won 10 events. I call that a very good year. It’s been an honor to coach these young men, and as with all of those who have played at CACC under me, I will be anxious to watch their growth in the game and in life. This group of young men, some who were with me for three years due to COVID-19, kept out of trouble, stayed focused and were tremendous ambassadors to CACC and the Alexander City community.

Coming in August, we have a new young team coming in. Only two golfers are returning. Returning are Tanner Brown from Moultrie, Georgia, and Griffin Dorr from Louisiana. We will have a roster of eight golfers. Accompanying Tanner and Griffin will be Joseph Vineyard, Noah Small and Elad Sebbag, all of Birmingham; Cian Hughes from Australia; Blayne Armstrong from Hamilton, Alabama; and Sam Mitchell from Pottstown, Pennsylvania.

We also have acquired a new assistant golf coach from Newnan, Georgia. His name is Travis Cassell. I’ve known Travis for more than 30 years. Travis has spent the past

From the Tee 25 years in the realty industry, owning a very successful business, while still maintaining a high level of golf. Travis traveled to Odessa, working as the assistant coach. The team enjoyed his presence and help. He’s going to be very good for CACC Golf. Expectations for next year’s team run rampant in my mind this time of year. I contemplate who will step up to replace this and that former player. Who will take on leadership rolls? Who will make the trips, and who will struggle? I pray that I can continue to drive the boys to our tournament destinations and return safely. I hope that I can help them develop into better players and people. There’s a host of thoughts in this old Dave Jennings head. For all of you, thank you for keeping us in your thoughts. For those who donate to the CACC Golf program, I can’t thank you enough. If it were not for your benevolence, we could not do what we do. I thank God daily for the opportunity this college has afforded me over the years. It’s been a great run. The young men I’ve worked with, the people I have met – there aren’t words to describe it, aside from, “I’ve been blessed!” Thank you all. ~ Dave Jennings is the men’s golf coach at Central Alabama Community College.