The Choctaw County boys golf team opened the season by finishing fourth out of five teams in a nine-hole match at the Starkville Country Club.
Preston Payne led the Chargers with 48. Spencer Power shot 54, Paxton Hammons, Collin Clark and Wes Cagle each 60. Payne and Power are seniors, Cagle, Clark and Hammons sophomores.
Other members of the team are Brian Threadgill, a junior, and sophomores Connor Jewell and Cole Vowell.
Choctaw County finished sixth at last year's 3A state match at Hillandale Golf Course in Corinth, led by Payne with rounds of 81 and 84 for 11th in the individual standings.
“I feel like come April we will be in good shape to make a run at a division title,” said coach Gary Beals.
Choctaw County is a member of 2-3A with Houston, Nettleton, Senatobia and Water Valley. The Chargers finished second behind Water Valley in last year's region match.
The next match is Thursday at Elm Lake Golf Course in Columbus.
The second season for the girls team began at Starkville Country Club. Mary Claire Cagle shot 59, Blake Helms 71, Jenna Bellew and Payton Payne each 72. Cagle and Helms are seniors, Bellew a junior and Payne a sophomore.
Other members of the team are seniors Morgan Edwards and Leah Hammons.
