CULLMAN – Luke Wilson had nerves of steel in facing adverse weather conditions once again this prep golf season.
Playing in the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 6A Sub-State Monday, the Cullman senior displayed poise and confidence vs. a wet Terri Pines Country Club.
Wilson would get his lowest score of the season, a 3-under par 69 that put him atop the leaderboard and on to the AHSAA State Tournament next week in Huntsville.
The weather did not affect Wilson's play at all. But for nine golfers who were on the final hole around 2:42 p.m., it was a different story.
A thunderstorm with lightning arrived at Terri Pines. TPCC staff member John Hunt followed golf course guidelines by using an air horn to notify the participants and spectators to head toward the club house with the storm coming into the Cullman city limits from the West Point area.
These nine would have to wait for an hour for the storm to pass and for the course to dry just enough to allow them to go out and complete their round of 18 holes.
When it was completed, Homewood edged John Carroll by one stroke with a 305 to 306 score. John Carroll held off Muscle Shoals by two shots with the Trojans scoring a 308.
That kept the Trojans from getting a berth to the state tournament.
Adding to the excitement was the final spot in the individual category behind Wilson. Thomas Caddell of Brookwood and Allen Michael Burnett of Muscle Shoals were tied with an even par 72, forcing a sudden death playoff.
Going to the 18th hole, Caddell got a birdie with Burnett shooting a par. That put Caddell in the field for next week's state tournament alongside Wilson.
Every time Wilson has played at TPCC this season, he has faced a challenging course that was hit with rainfall.
That was the situation on Monday. A strong thunderstorm Sunday afternoon made the course wet, but playable for the 48 participants in the 6A Sub-State.
Wilson qualified for a chance to play at his home course after winning the Section 4 title a week ago in Decatur.
But Wilson and 21 other prep players were able to not let the conditions affect their game. Wilson was the only player to shoot under 70, four players had an even par 72 and 17 others were one to eight over with scores between 73 and 79.
While Homewood edged John Carroll by a shot and Muscle Shoals by three strokes, fourth and fifth place were settled by a mere stroke as well.
Hartselle got a 317 to Northridge's 318 in taking the fourth slot. Fort Payne was four shots behind Northridge with a 322 while Athens edged Walker for seventh place by a score of 329 to 330.
Wilson has played around par or below par all season. Now the future Wallace State Lion gets to be a part of a sports spectacular next week in the Rocket City with a quest to come home as a state champion.
