By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
May 14, 2004
Seniors Shane Parker of West Lauderdale and Jonathan Winstead of Union recently added their names to high school golfing immortality by winning medalist honors in their respective state championship tournaments.
Parker shot a 4-under par 68 in the second round of the Class 3A State Tournament to take medalist honors at Forest Country Club. He had a 2-over par 146 for the 36-hole event.
Winstead shot a 3-over par 147 to win the Class 1A State Tournament at Beau Pre' Country Club at Natchez.
While Parker's Knights team went on to win the 3A state crown, Winstead's Yellowjackets squad saw a six-stroke first-day lead evaporate as Union eventually placed third.
Parker shot lights out over his second 18 holes. He had seven birdies to go with three bogeys. He was 6-under par with four holes remaining, but bogeyed Nos. 15 and 17 for a tournament-best 68.
He opened with birdies on three of the first four holes and made the turn at 3-under for the day after a bogey on No. 5 and another birdie on No. 6.
Winstead was looking hard at being the top golfer in Class 1A this year after finishing second in 2002 and again in 2003. Last year's runner-up finish was especially hard to take.
After shooting an even-par 72 in his opening round, Winstead saw Jordan Farmer of Natchez Cathedral shoot a 2-under 34 on the front nine of the final day to take a one-stroke lead.
Over the last nine holes, Winstead rallied to beat Farmer and Smith by two strokes each.
Winstead is only halfway through with his education as he plans to major in pre-med and play on the newly-revived golf team at Mississippi College.
Parker plans on playing at Meridian Community College.