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Taylor Haltom Makes All-State Golf Team

Ava High School golf coach Nathan Houk is pictured at the state golf meet with state qualifiers Taylor (left) and Tristan Haltom (center). Taylor, a freshman, finished 11th in state and made the all-state golf team.

Ava High School freshman Taylor Haltom finished 11th in state and qualified as an all-state golfer at the state meet this week.
The top 15 in the state were designated all-state.
Coach Nathan Houk said Taylor shot a 79 the first day and an 80 the second day for a two-day total of 159.
“Taylor managed the golf course very well and put up good scores both days,” Coach Houk said. This was “quite an accomplishment” for a freshman golfer, Coach Houk added.
Taylor’s brother, Tristan, a junior, shot an 89 the first day and a 79 the second day for a two-day total of 168, tying eight other golfers for 34th position overall.
“Tristan struggled the first day but bounced back the second day with a strong score of 79,” Houk said. “I was pleased to see he kept battling the second day and came in with a good score.”
Kory Franks, of Blair Oaks, was the top golfer in the state with a two-day score of 147. Walker Kesterson, of Southern Boone, finished second with a 150.
Sean Benton Mulkey (152), of Ash Grove was third, with Landon Maberry (154), of Lamar placing fourth. Ian Barnes, of Licking, and Daymond Dollens, of Centralia, tied for the fifth spot with identical scores of 155.
Top team in the state was Barstow High School with a team total of 659.
Rounding out the top eight were Whitfield, Lamar, Eugene, Blair Oaks, Springfield Catholic, Christian High School and Penney High School.