Holston wins Region 1D golf title as Carson Rouse is medalist (copy) (copy)
Rural Retreat's Hunter Wells plays third during baseball season. Wells competed in the region golf tournament, carding a 105.
MARION, Va. – It turned out to be fitting that Holston Hills Community Golf Course was the site of the 2026 Region 1D tournament because the Holston Cavaliers owned the place on Tuesday.
Carson Rouse and Easton Sweet of the Cavs claimed the top two spots on the individual leaderboard and Holston took the team title in sweeping the major honors at the event.
It was the first regional golf title since 2019 for Holston, which finished second to Chilhowie by 22 shots in the team standings during last year’s Region 1D tourney.
“It feels good to bring home the championship trophy instead of the runner-up,” Sweet said.
The fate of the Cavaliers wasn’t known until Levi Moretz – playing in the penultimate group to finish their round – came in with an 87 to give the school from Damascus an eight-stroke victory.
“I was sweating it out,” said Holston coach Ina G. Turner.
Rouse remained cool, however, as he carded a three-over par score of 75 to take medalist honors.
“This is what it comes down to in order to make the state tournament, so I knew I had to stay locked in,” Rouse said. “I just put my head down and figured I had to birdie a couple. I was able to get my strokes back from when I did mess up.”
Making his performance even more impressive is the fact he is just a sophomore.
“He’s just a natural golfer and athlete,” Turner said.
Sweet followed with a 77, while Hogoheegee District champion Brody Thomas added an 86 for what added up to a team score of 325. Maylan Smith (95) and Garrett Steele (103) also competed for the Cavaliers.
Meanwhile, Moretz was clutch.
He improved by nine strokes from the district tournament held on the same course five days earlier.
“I knew I had to come in low today – in the 80s,” Moretz said. “My driver wasn’t the greatest, but I came back with my putts.”
Turner was glad to see it.
“I watched him play a few holes and he parred No. 5 and No. 6,” the coach said. “The last hole we just told him put it on the green and two-putt and get out of there.”
Patrick Henry finished with a total of 333 with Kolby Hicks (78), Porter Blackwell (80), Hank Rutherford (86), Whitten Puckett (89) and Connor Brown (89) contributing to that score.
Holston, PH and Chilhowie battled all season and Tuesday was no different.
Hicks finished third on the individual leaderboard after winning the Region 1D individual crown in a playoff last year.
“It’s definitely been fun competition all year,” Hicks said.
While only the top two teams from the Hogoheegee District and Cumberland District advanced to the regional tourney, Chilhowie’s four individuals combined to a shoot a 341 on Tuesday and that would have put the Warriors in third place in the team standings.
Lance Teaters (79) and Spencer Williams (82) were state qualifiers for Chilhowie.
In the end, Holston came out on top in the district and regional tourneys.
“We played in five 18-hole invitational matches this year and I feel that helped us a lot,” Turner said. “This is just a really good group of kids.”
Castlewood’s Parker King prevented Region 1D's state contingent from being a complete Hogoheegee District party as he snagged one of the three individual state qualifier spots by shooting an 82.
King won the Cumberland District tournament.
“I’ve just been playing my game and thanks to the Lord I’ve been doing pretty good,” King said. “This feels really great and I am excited. Maybe I can do something at state.”
The VHSL Class 1 state tournament is Oct. 13 at Hobbs Hole Golf Course in Tappahannock, Virginia, the same venue that hosted the event last year.
“I think the experience will help,” Hicks said. “Hopefully, we will play in better conditions this year and it won't be as windy."
Region 1D Tournament
Tuesday
Holston Hills Community Golf Course (Par-72)
Team Scores
Holston 325, Patrick Henry 333, Thomas Walker 396, J.I. Burton 400
Individual Results
Holston – Carson Rouse 75, Easton Sweet 77, Brody Thomas 86, Levi Moretz 87, Maylan Smith 95, Garrett Steele 103
Patrick Henry – Kolby Hicks 78, Porter Blackwell 80, Hank Rutherford 86, Whitten Puckett 89, Connor Brown 89, Bishop Ratliff 114
Thomas Walker – Owen Shepard 90, James Frederick 100, Enos Shepard 100, Remington Cress 106, Hunter Brockman 112, Lincoln Munsey 116
J.I. Burton – Mason Baker 86, Brayden Sturgill 101, Brody Garrett 102, Chase Scott 111, Cash Mullins 115, Nick Mullins 118
Individual Qualifiers
Lance Teaters (Chilhowie) 79, Parker King (Castlewood) 82, Spencer Williams (Chilhowie) 82, Isaac Cassell (Chilhowie) 86, Brandon Anders (Chilhowie) 94, Tru Ruff (Castlewood) 99, Marcus Holbrook (Castlewood) 100, Ben Markham (Eastside) 100, Hunter Wells (Rural Retreat) 105, Colt Stevenson (Northwood) 112, Aiden Sexton (Eastside) 116, Brayden Culbertson (Twin Springs) 120
Individual Leaderboard (Top-5)
1. Carson Rouse (Holston) 75, 2. Easton Sweet (Holston) 77, 3. Kolby Hicks (Patrick Henry) 78, 4. Lance Teaters (Chilhowie) 79, 5. Porter Blackwell (Patrick Henry) 80.
Holston and Patrick Henry’s teams qualify for the VHSL Class 1 state tournament held Oct. 13 at Hobbs Hole Golf Course in Tappahannock. … Lance Teaters (Chilhowie), Parker King (Castlewood) and Spencer Williams (Chilhowie) qualified for the state tourney as individuals.
Region 1D Golf Champs
(Since 2017)
Individual
2026 – Carson Rouse, Holston
2025 – Kolby Hicks, Patrick Henry
2024 – Will Barnes, Chilhowie
2023 – Savannah Riley, Patrick Henry
2022 – Chase Coley, Chilhowie
Fall 2021 – Abby Bradley, Castlewood
Spring 2021 – Abby Bradley, Castlewood
2019 – Mason Steele, Holston
2018 – Mason Steele, Holston
2017 – Taylor Williams, Thomas Walker
Team
2026 – Holston
2025 – Chilhowie
2024 – Chilhowie
2023 – Patrick Henry
2022 – Castlewood
Fall 2021 – Castlewood
Spring 2021 – Castlewood
2019 – Holston
2018 – Holston
2017 – Holston
