For the third year in a row, the Cedarville Pirates golf team hit the links, and this year made history! The Cedarville Lady Pirates continued to grow this season, and for the first time in program history, they had enough golfers to record a team score at District. The girls competing this season were Abby Whitley (sophomore), Hadleigh Love (senior), Ellie Karnes (freshman), Emily McCutcheon (junior), and Sierra Booth (senior). The team of Whitley, Love, Karnes, and McCutcheon finished 4th at District, marking another first for the young program. But the biggest highlight came from sophomore Abby Whitley, who made even more Cedarville history. At State, Whitley finished with a score of 112, placing 10th overall and just eight strokes out of first place. Along the way, she also filled up the Cedarville record book, becoming the school’s first female State qualifier, first golfer to par a hole, and record holder for most pars with 2. But Whitley wasn’t done yet. She also improved her District score by an impressive 20 strokes from the previous year.
When it comes to the Cedarville Pirates squad, they are a young team with plenty of drive. The boys’ team is made up mostly of sophomores, with two seniors rounding out the group. This year’s golfers were Josiah Wells (sophomore), Gavin Rush (sophomore), Rhett Evans (sophomore), Tommy Bufkin (sophomore), Ethan Peters (sophomore), Hunter Johnson (sophomore), Adrian Crossland (senior), and Aiden Baggett (senior). Sophomore Josiah Wells led the Pirates at District, shooting an 89. He finished just five strokes short of qualifying, showing just how close he was to making the next step. With several golfers returning next season, the boys have plenty of opportunity to keep improving, lowering their scores, and finding a few more fairways along the way.
For the Cedarville Pirates and Lady Pirates, who are headed by Coach John Six, the 2026 tee-time was definitely a season worth celebrating. Cedarville may still be relatively new to the golf course, but this year proved they’re already making their mark and leaving their legacy. From long days on the course to big swings and close calls, the Pirates and Lady Pirates will continue to grow with every round.
Photos of the Pirates taken by Nate Farrell and photos of the Lady Pirates taken by Leanne Karnes
