Region crown on the line

Matthew Hopper will lead the Indians against the other region golf teams at Tuesday's Region II-4A tournament at Cherokee National. Every team likely will be chasing Dorman - again - at the Region II-4A golf tournament.

The defending region and state champion Cavaliers are 17-0 heading into the 36-hole event on Tuesday.

"They are just loaded," Gaffney High golf coach Todd Coggins said. "They all play well and work hard. They want it."

Just how bad do the Cavaliers want it? The Cavalier spent the weekend practicing at Cherokee National, the site of the tournament.

But Coggins said the Indians (7-3 in the region) won't back down from the Cavaliers.

"Our goal is to win the region," Coggins said. "But we can't make any mistakes."

The Indians haven't been making many mistakes lately. They enter the region tournament playing their best golf of the season after placing third in the prestigious Hardaway Invitational in Atlanta and easily defeating region rivals Mauldin, Byrnes and Spartanburg in a pair of matches last week.

Matthew Hopper is Gaffney's hottest golfer. He finished fourth at the Hardaway and Hopper fired a sizzling 4- under 32 at Holly Tree Country Club last week.

"He's been our most consistent player," Coggins said.

Sophomore Adam Goins has a history of elevating his game when the stakes are the highest.

Goins was the lone Indian to qualify for the state tournament last year.

"He plays his best in tournaments," Coggins said.

Sophomore Phillips Rogers has made strides this year, while Daniel Whisenant has the potential to shoot a low score at any time, according to Coggins.

Seventh-grader Trey Taylor also will be competing for the Indians. The top four scores from each school will be used to determine the total team score.

The top two teams and the individual with the lowest score on a team that finishes third or lower will qualify for the state tournament.

The Indians finished third last year, but Coggins said the Indians have an advantage this time around - playing on their home course.

"It's a big advantage," he said. "We play out here more than anybody. We know the course better than anybody else. We've been practicing all weekend. We've been working hard but you have to show up that day."

Coggins said the Indians must putt well to win the tournament.

"Good putters will have an advantage," he said. "The greens are good."

The tournament will begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. The Indians will tee off at 8:40 a.m. with Dorman.

The public is welcome to cheer on the Indians, Coggins said.