10/02/2025
Today was the regional for the boys over in Mt. Sterling. It definitely didn’t go the way it was drawn up for several players and the team, but that doesn’t negate anything for the boys this season and their careers.
One Cavalier will be moving on to sectionals next Monday in Jacksonville. Carter Zilm shot a 79 (+7) for his round, which landed him in the top ten overall for the regional! Carter’s round was almost IDENTICAL to his play at conference last week- 8 over par after 8 holes, and then played the rest of the round at -1.
SCC Champ Cade Vinyard didn’t advance out of today, but that doesn’t change the amazing season he had. Multiple medalist awards, SCC Champion, All Conference Team, and all around good guy on top of it! I’m sure Cade is already thinking of next summer’s golf tournament lineup and his senior year of high school golf in the fall.
The question coming out of last season was who would fill the top 4 spot after the loss of Colin Pope last year? Surprisingly, it came from a deep roster like Keegan Anderson, Gus Gibbs, Kurtis Killam, and Royce Hurt. The number 4 spot is extremely crucial when you have a top 3 of absurdly talented golfers like Tate, Cade, and Carter. These young men filled that 4 spot all season long. The team doesn’t have the success that they do without these boys stepping up every match.
Speaking of Tate…
Tate’s high school golf career came to a close today, missing advancing as an individual by just one shot. The impact that Tate (and his dad, Bob) have had on junior and high school golf in Carlinville can’t be measured. Tate playing junior golf tournaments certainly was the spark that got Carter and Cade thinking of playing competite golf- which has then certainly trickled down to even younger kids taking an interest in playing after seeing the success these boys have had. For a lot of these kids, it all traces back to Tate and Bob. Tate’s a natural leader and stuck around until the very end to hang with his buddy Carter and to see him advance. (As the last photo shows, they spent that time randomly wrestling one another.)
Tate’s senior season had him win multiple medalist awards, SCC All Conference Team, and possibly a Cavalier record by shooting a -4 on 9 holes a couple of weeks ago. In fact, Tate’s last 18 holes of matches in Carlinville had him at -7!
Great season, boys! Good luck at Sectionals, Carter!
and
THANK YOU, TATE- You’re a CHS Golf legend with the career you’ve had.
