CARTERVILLE – Thursday was a big day for the Carterville golf program; the girls stayed home to face the Indians of Johnston City and the Bulldogs of Sparta for their first match of the year. The lineup for the season opener consisted of a lone senior and four sophomores. Carterville won the match with a score of 192 to Johnston City’s 248 and Sparta’s 246.

Carterville had returned five of their top six from last year, four of which are now sophomores. The lowest shooting of the four and the team number one, Merryn Elliott, placed second in the match with a score of 43. The lone senior, Macie Clark, placed third overall with a 48.

The rest of the team was separated by just five strokes. Elsie Clark’s 50, Baillie Sims’ 51, and Kamy Mathews’ 55 helped round out the first place finish for the Lady Lions, with hopes of many more to come in the future for the young group.

The team’s next match takes place at home on Wednesday the 20th against the Benton Rangers. For updates on everything Carterville sports, follow @CHS_Lion_Ath on Twitter/X and @Lions_Ath_CHS on Instagram.