GRASONVILLE — Kent County freshman Quinten Joiner is headed to the Class 1A/2A state high school golf tournament tomorrow at College Park, having easily met the qualifying cutoff at the District 8 tourney here two weeks ago.
He was the runner-up to two-time defending district champion Jake Smith of Queen Anne’s, which is exactly how they stacked up against one another at the conclusion of the nine-match regular season.
Joiner, 14, is the Trojans’ first state qualifier since James Ciganek in 2015.
Kent County folded its golf program in September 2018 after just the second match because the school was unable to field a full team, and relaunched it in 2023.
The program under coaches Jonathan Fitch and Kolyn Kirby appears to be on solid footing for a while since this year’s all-underclassman team included five freshmen.
Joiner, Smith and Kent Island senior Josh David were fixtures atop the leaderboard throughout the regular season, heading what coaches have said was the most competitive field of golfers in recent memory.
Smith (36.11) finished with the lowest nine-hole stroke average in the North Bayside Conference. Joiner (37.11) was second and David (37.22) was third.
They went head-to-head for the District 8 championship Oct. 15 at Prospect Bay Country Club in Grasonville.
Joiner fired a 1-under par 35 for a three-shot lead at the turn and was tied for first after the 16th hole, before he faltered.
He four-putted on the 17th and three-putted on the 18th, ultimately finishing two strokes behind Smith.
“I felt good on the front nine,” where he made three birdies, Joiner told The Evening Enterprise.
“I felt confident,” he said, and “on about the 12th or 13th I had my first thoughts that I might win.”
What happened?
“I got ahead of myself, lost my concentration,” he said candidly. “I got so caught up trying to win, instead of playing as I had been playing.”
Smith took the lead with a par on the 17th hole, while Joiner double bogeyed.
The Queen Anne’s senior went on to finish with a 3-over-par 75 to three-peat as the district champion.
Joiner (77) and David (78) both qualified for states as individuals by meeting the cutoff of 83.
While acknowledging that he was disappointed — “I needed two two-putts,” he said in hindsight of the final two holes — Joiner is thrilled that his season is continuing and that he will carry Trojan pride with him to the University of Maryland Golf Course on Tuesday.
He said he loves playing for something bigger than himself.
“I love wearing the logo [of KCHS golf] and representing the school,” he told The Evening Enterprise.
Joiner, David and the others who qualified for the state tournament as individuals will compete in a one-day 18-hole semifinal round on Tuesday, Oct. 29.
Teams and individuals qualifying from the semifinals return Wednesday for final play.
Overall results will be based on cumulative scores from the semifinal and final rounds.
NOTES: Queen Anne’s won the team district title with Smith, Sam Yetman (85), George Cook (92) and girls champion Keira Corcoran (85) totaling 337, two strokes better than runner-up Stephen Decatur.
Queen Anne’s qualified as a team for the state tournament.
Joiner, Braden Wilson (106), Tucker Ervin (124) and Barrett Gruszyinski (133) scored for Kent County.
