Clarke Central High School boys varsity golf players Wright Cook (left) and Traye Bernt (right), both sophomores, pose at the ODYSSEY Media Group’s 2026 Spring Media Day in the CCHS Competition Gym on Feb. 21. The CCHS boys varsity golf team has seen improvement in player numbers this season, creating a roster of new Gladiators. “(I’m impressed by) the way (the team) conducts themselves on the course. They always are respectful, and they always keep improving (their) focus,” CCHS head varsity golf coach Stephen Howard said. “When someone’s not hitting a ball in the range and they’re waiting for their turn, they’re watching the other player to see what they can do to help them out, and not in a way to belittle them, but in a way to build them up and build their confidence.” Photo by Iliana Tejada
The CCHS boys varsity golf team will send five players to participate in the JV Athens Classic match, on March 9 at Jennings Mill Country Club.
Five undecided Clarke Central High School boys varsity golf players will compete in the JV Athens Classic match, hosted by North Oconee High School, at 1 p.m. on March 9 at Jennings Mill Country Club.
The match will include CCHS, NOHS, Bethlehem Christian Academy, Prince Avenue Christian Academy, Madison County High School, Jefferson High School and Oconee County High School. The Gladiators, led by CCHS head varsity golf coach Stephen Howard, had a larger turnout at tryouts than in previous years, giving the team a forward-looking attitude heading into the 2025-26 season.
“We have a very talented team. I could go on (about) the strengths and weaknesses, especially the strengths of the team, for a long time,” Howard said. “Being able to have a full schedule this year and getting them out there many times in a competitive atmosphere will benefit the most going forward.”
“(We didn’t have) the best showing last year, so hopefully we can play a lot better this year, and now that we’ve got better players, I think that will be the case.”
— Wright Cook,
CCHS boys varsity golf player
After carrying eight players last season, the team now has a full lineup of nine. Of the five CCHS players competing in the tournament, only the top four scores will count towards the team’s total, and the team with the lowest aggregate score will win the tournament. The event will feature a shotgun start, meaning all players will begin at the same time on different holes.
“(We didn’t have) the best showing last year, so hopefully we can play a lot better this year, and now that we’ve got better players, I think that will be the case,” CCHS boys varsity golf player Wright Cook, a sophomore, said. “We’ve been preparing by trying to dial in (on) consistency (and) trying to make sure we’re fully ready for the tournament coming up.”
By practicing every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the CCHS boys varsity golf team is both preparing for the tournament and focusing on embracing its new roster for the 2025-26 season.
“My first couple years coaching (at CCHS), we didn’t have enough to fill out a full roster. We would have maybe three girls and a couple boys,” Howard said. “Every year I’ve been coaching the golf team, it’s grown in numbers and we’re getting talented players, so it’s exciting. The program is heading very much in the right direction.”
