Union upsets Rabun
Golfers get rare win over Cats
By JARED PUTNAM Union Sentinel Editor

Sentinel photo/Jared Putnam Colten Beattie tees off in last week's match versus Rabun County.

The Panthers golf team picked up a big win over over Rabun County last Thursday, squeezing out a tight victory over the team that Panthers Head Coach Jim Hughes described as one of the top two teams in the region. The Panthers shot a 164 while Rabun finished at 168.

Rabun County has fielded a strong club for quite some time, as Coach Hughes said that it has been several years since Union had last beaten them in a match. "The last four or five years they have been tough," Coach Hughes said, "so we'll, take it."

The Panthers were led by Colten Beattie, who tied a Rabun County player as low medalist with a 38. Beattie's match included a birdie on hole five.

Beattie was followed by another strong outing from freshman Michael Akin, who finished with a 39 that included six pars. "Michael has really been coming on strong this season," Coach Hughes said. "We're very pleased with that."

Jake Levens finished third with a 41. Levens had five pars. "Jake was not happy with his round, but he shot a very consistent 41," Coach Hughes said. "Jake is never happy unless he is the low man, but that's what I like," Coach Hughes said jokingly.

Sentinel photo/Jared Putnam Jake Levens sinks the putt.

Jake Farner rounded out the Panthers top four scores with a 46. "Jake struggled but still put together a pretty good round," Coach Hughes said.

In the girls matchup, Morgan Bentley finished second with a 60. "She really had one bad hole that cost her," Coach Hughes said. "Hole one really hurt her, but all in all, as a freshman I'll take her scores, and she will only keep getting better."

This was the last of the Panthers 9-hole matches this season. When the team comes back from spring break they will begin 18-hole match play, including a hectic schedule that puts them in four matches in as many days.

"I try to do that [scheduling] to try to get them as ready for Region as possible," Coach Hughes said. "During that time we try to play as many holes as we can to get them used to that grind."