Indian golfers to battle elite field

The Gaffney Indians will try to get the better of 47 other golf teams today and tomorrow at the prestigious Hardaway Invitational.

Prep golf powers from Georgia, Alabama, Florida and South Carolina, including Gaffney, Fort Dorchester, A.C. Flora and Spring Valley will compete in the Hardaway Invitational in Columbus, Ga.

The Indians stroked the ball well during Thursday's practice round.

"The practice round went well," Gaffney coach Todd Coggins said.

The par 72, 6,853-yard course will be a challenge.

"We have to get used to the greens because they are fast," Coggins said. "It's a pretty long course. There are a lot of doglegs and the greens are high."

The greens made an unfavorable impression on Gaffney's Matthew Hopper.

"The greens aren't as good as Cherokee National," Hopper said. "I'll do okay as long as I don't three putt too many greens."

Hopper, Daniel Whisenant, Adam Goins and Phillip Rogers will be competing for the Indians. Each player's score will count toward the team score.

Hopper said the competition will be stiff but he's confident the Indians will make a good showing.

"There are a lot of good teams, especially from Georgia. But we are coming here to win and to get better for the region and state tournament," Hopper said.

Coggins said each team member must be on his game for the Indians to claim the championship.

"If everybody shoots 75, we'll be in the hunt," he said.

The Indians's best showing in the event was a third-place finish in 2003.

That's the same year the Indians captured their state championship.