QUEENSTOWN — While acknowledging that he “didn’t really have his best stuff,” Kent County High School golfer Quinten Joiner had the right stuff when he needed it most.
A 15-year-old sophomore, Joiner defeated Kent Island senior Josh David on the first hole of a playoff to win the District VIII individual boys championship Oct. 20 at Queenstown Harbor’s Lakes Course.
Joiner and David carded 1-over-par 72s to qualify for this week’s Class 1A/2A state tournament at the University of Maryland course in College Park.
This is the second year in a row that Joiner has qualified for states; last year he advanced as the District VIII runner-up to Queen Anne’s Jake Smith, who would go on to finish second in the state tournament.
“It certainly feels pretty good to be a champ. It’s what you practice for and why you play the game,” Joiner told The Evening Enterprise in a telephone interview Sunday after his practice round at College Park.
He said he feels “comfortable” heading into the semifinal round on Tuesday.
“I’m hitting the ball a little farther than I did last year,” Joiner said.
“Last year, in every part of the game, I wasn’t where I am now. I’m a lot better everywhere throughout the bag. Mentally too,” he added.
Maturity, composure and stick-to-itiveness were as important as Joiner’s stroke play in last week’s state-qualifying District VIII tournament when he fell two strokes behind David at the turn.
“I told myself to keep my head down, to keep fighting, trying to get the ball in the hole as quickly as possible,” Joiner said. “I tried to play my own game and not worry about what was happening around me. I stayed focused on what I can control.”
Joiner’s nine-hole stroke average of 36.11 was the best in the North Bayside regular season.
David (38.67) was Joiner’s stiffest competition.
Collectively, they accounted for all first-place finishes in the regular season.
That certainly added to the storyline for the District VIII tournament, as did the wind and overall challenging course conditions.
Joiner and David played in the lead group with Stephen Decatur’s Brody Kendall and Lewis Takacs. They started on No. 10 for their first nine and then started on No. 1 for their back nine.
Joiner bogeyed the first hole and played catch-up for most of the round.
“I was driving well and putted well, but I didn’t really have my best stuff, irons and wedges,” he said, admitting to getting “a little nervous toward the end of the back nine.”
Joiner still trailed David by two strokes with four holes to play.
On the par-4 No. 7 (their 16th hole), Joiner sunk a putt for birdie while David bogeyed the hole, locking them into a tie for first.
They matched stroke for stroke over the final two holes, and went into the clubhouse with 72s to force a playoff.
On the par-4 No. 10 playoff hole, Joiner recalled for The Evening Enterprise that he had a good drive, a great second shot and two-putted for par. He missed a 10-foot putt for birdie.
Meantime, David’s tee shot landed in the water on the left side of the hole.
Of his comeback, Joiner said, “Getting the opportunity in the last few holes to win is special, and it feels great to come out on top.”
He’s just as proud as he was last year to represent Kent County High School at the state level.
“It’s awesome to get to represent where you are from, and I am always grateful and proud to wear that shirt and [KCHS] logo,” Joiner said.
He is the only Trojan to advance to this week’s state tournament.
Kent County’s District VIII team also included Braden Wilson (103), Tucker Ervin (110) and Lawrence Peach (133).
“I am very proud of how they competed and the scores they earned,” KCHS coach Jonathan Fitch told The Evening Enterprise in an email. “I’m especially proud of our two graduating seniors [Wilson and Peach]. It is going to be hard to replace their performance and leadership next year.”
While Joiner was the headline-maker for KCHS, he noted the importance of being part of a team.
“Having people to practice with is awesome. It really breaks up the boring days when you don’t really want to be there and makes them fun,” he said.
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The Class 3A/4A state semifinal round is today (Monday, Oct. 27) and the Class 1A/2A state semifinal round is tomorrow. Qualifiers from the semifinal rounds will compete in the finals on Wednesday, Oct. 29.
Joiner and David have been paired with freshman Callen Edmonston of Catoctin and senior PJ Lownsbury of Century for the semifinal round.
Also qualifying as individuals from the North Bayside for the 1A/2A state tournament are Queen Anne’s Nolan Simmons (73) and Sam Yetman (80) and Easton’s Grayson Buritsch (79).
Kent Island qualified as a team with a composite score of 317, easily making the state-qualifying cut by 11 strokes. KI’s top four were senior Josh David (72), sophomores Scott Schnell (79) and Paul David (79), and junior Tyler Criswell (87).
Kent Island junior Noelle Agee qualified as an individual for the girls tournament with an 87.
