Fowler runner-up at MIT after shooting 1-under, Science Hill within striking distance at Baylor

MORRISTOWN — Dobyns-Bennett's Jake Fowler opened his junior golf season by shooting under par at one of East Tennessee's tougher courses. At The Country Club in Morristown on Monday, Fowler placed second individually at the Mike Mills Morristown Invitational Tournament. He shot 1-under-par 71 for the tournament, finishing second only to Alex Green of First Baptist Academy-Powell. Green, a senior who led FBA to its 2025 Division II-A state title, shot 4-under 68 less than a week after shooting 6-under to win the 5StarPreps Masters. Fowler edged Tennessee High's Declan McSheehy, who shot even-par 72 to tie CAK's Roddy Sturgeon and Sevier County's Grady Smelcer for third place. Five players tied for sixth place individually at 75 — Morristown West's Reed Patrick, Lakeway Christian's Easton Dalton, FBA-Powell's Luke McGhee, CAK's Tyler Stafford and Hardin Valley's Arjun Patel. Green's individual round ended up being the difference when team scores were calculated, as First Baptist Academy shot 304 as a team to edge CAK (305) for the team championship. Morristown West (313) placed third followed by Lakeway Christian (316), Bearden (317), Hardin Valley (318), Farragut (320), Greeneville (321), Tennessee High (324) and Knox Halls (325) to round out the top 10. Baxley Hamlin (81), JD Odom (84) and Russell Blevins (87) made up Tennessee High's team total. And while five of Science Hill's golfers participated in the Baylor Preview, Bennett Horne shot 79 to lead the Hilltoppers at the MIT to an 11th-place tie at 328. Max Brian shot 80 and Holden Sanders 82, while Mac McInturff and Colin Hecht both shot 87 with one counting toward the team score. Marshal Holtsclaw shot 77 to lead Elizabethton's 13th-place finish at 331, followed by Tyler York (80) and Bryson Hardin (82). Gage Stout and Saige Rose both shot 92. Dobyns-Bennett shot 340 as a team to finish 16th overall. Cam Cheshier and Austin Proffitt both shot 85, with Beckley Davis and Palmer Post each turning in a 99. Cherokee placed 18th at 354 led by Porter Owen (83), Jackson Davenport (85), Amos Winstead (92) and Steven Barnes (94). Sanders leading Science Hill at Baylor Preview CHATTANOOGA — After one day at the prestigious Baylor Preview, Science Hill senior Will Sanders sits at five strokes off the lead. Sanders birdied three holes on his front nine and then another on the back to shoot 2-over-par 74, tying him for eighth heading into Day 2. Individually, Crockett Mullins is the next closest for Science Hill, sitting at 77 after Day 1 to put him in a 20th-place tie out of 80 golfers. Ben Vandergriff shot 81 and Avery Watts 82. As a team, Science Hill's team score of 314 puts the Hilltoppers in sixth place going into to Day 2, just behind Christian Brothers (313). Memphis University School and Ensworth sit behind Science Hill at 315 each. McCallie (295) holds a two-stroke lead over Baylor (297) in the team standings. On the girls side, Science Hill sits at fourth overall with a score of 163 after Day 1. Cassidy Mullins shots 81 on her first day, with teammates Addison Smith (82) and Rebekah Bowman (84) right behind her. Baylor (151) holds a one-stroke advantage over Harpeth Hall for the team lead with Murfreesboro Central Magnet (154) in third. Brentwood is Science Hill's closest pursuer at 167.