FAYETTEVILLE -- The Class 7A boys' state golf tournament begins at Centennial Valley in Conway today, and one team enters play as the runaway favorite.
Fayetteville will seek its fourth consecutive Class 7A boys' state golf championship. While the Bulldogs have been stacked with talent in recent seasons, perhaps no state tournament roster they've put together compares to the one it will roll out today and Wednesday in Conway.
Senior Kyle Robinson and junior Fisher Vollendorf, both Arkansas commits, averaged 72 and 73, respectively per 18-hole round during the regular season. Teammates Jackson Cole, Denver Davis and Grant Hynes were all close behind, with averages of 74.
"The only thing that hurts us is we can only put five guys out there," Fayetteville golf coach Scott Williams said. "If we could put 10 out there, I could guarantee you a win.
"I could go Joe Namath on you and guarantee it. That's how much depth we have."
Williams expects the strongest push from Cabot and tournament host Conway, two programs who combined for five state titles from 2008-12.
In the 7A-West, several individuals could make a push at the overall state tournament, including Spencer Eiserman of Rogers High, Kade Keith of Springdale Har-Ber, and Will Remerscheid and Nate Morey of Bentonville High.
But Fayetteville appears to have the clear edge over all other teams beyond the top one or two players on each roster.
"There's teams who have a solid player or two," Williams said. "We just have some more depth.
"I just told our guys, 'You don't have to go out there and win the whole tournament by yourself. Just take care of your own business and be the top guy in your group, and everything will take care of itself.'"
Course sets up well for Saints
Shiloh Christian's boys team is vying for its second state championship in three years at today's Class 4A tournament at Stuttgart Country Club.
After Monday's practice round, first-year coach Ron Somers said the course sets up well for the strength of his team, which features seniors Canon Cothran and Jake Gearhart and juniors Garrett Covington and Michael Connolly.
"We're going to play it at 6,500 yards, so it'll be a good test length-wise," Somers said. "Every one of these guys (hits) pretty long, so length will not be a challenge. Their short game -- hitting the greens, chipping and putting -- will determine how well they play."
Covington shot a 76 to win the champion medalist while leading the Saints to the 4A-1 Conference championship Sept. 19 at The Creeks in Cave Springs. Cothran finished second overall with a 79 while Connolly and Gearhart shot a 79 and 83, respectively.
As a sophomore, Cothran was champion medalist during the Saints' Class 4A state championship in 2014. This year's foursome finished third at state a year ago.
"Canon and Jake had a disastrous hole on a Par 3, and we ended up losing by seven strokes," Somers said. "This is a tight-knit group, and we're excited to see how it all plays out (today)."
-- Mike Capshaw • @NWACappy
Sports on 10/04/2016