With few exceptions, Christ School golf has been near the top of the leaderboard in every NCISAA state tournament played over the past decade. The program has won three state championships during that time (2010, 2012, and 2014) and been a runner-up on five occasions (2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019).
Recent tradition is one thing. Keeping it going is another. Coach Eric Thorp ’01 believes this year’s Greenies have the intangibles to be special.
Christ School will take six golfers to most matches this spring, with four individuals counting towards the team score. Four is the same number of Greenie golfers who have made college commitments – Cameron Akers ’20 (College of Charleston), Andrew Graham ’21 (University of North Carolina Greensboro), Henry Muller ’20 (Sewanee: The University of the South), and Steve Papakonstantinou ’20 (Mars Hill University).
“It’s a great group of guys who enjoy being around each other,” Coach Thorp said.
“Obviously we’re in a really competitive classification (NCISAA 4-A) with some really good teams. Our long-term focus is to be one of those four teams that qualifies for the state tournament (through a May 4 qualifier at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro). We’ve had a much more intentional workout plan for the winter and the guys are more physically ready than they’ve been in the past. The leadership of Cameron and Henry this winter has been phenomenal. We’ve got veteran leadership and some younger guys who are pushing for spots.”
Christ School finished 11 shots back of Cannon School (598) in the 2019 NCISAA 4-A tournament and has plenty of pieces back from the second-place team.
Cameron was the 2019 Asheville Citizen-Times All-Western North Carolina Player of the Year and tied for fifth individually at last year’s state tournament with a 36-hole score of 148. He was named to the NCISAA all-state team, as was Steve who is the reigning Carolinas Athletic Association Player of the Year. Other returning All-CAA players for the Greenies are Cameron, Andrew, and Henry.
Connor Jones ’21 was the team’s Co-Most Improved Player in 2019.
Christ School opened its 2020 season by tying Metrolina Christian, 299-299, in a dual-team match on February 18. Individual leaders for the Greenies were Andrew (one-under 71), Henry (72), Cameron (77), Charles Howden ‘22 (79), Steve (81) and Connor (83).
Director of Communications Graylyn Loomis ’10 (a member of the state championship team in 2010) has returned as an assistant coach. Rounding out the staff is assistant coach/trainer Colby Harris, who is Program Director for Edge Athletics. Edge conducts performance and skill training, and is based at Christ School as of this school year. As Coach Thorp stated, the Greenies are fitter than they have been in the past, due in part to preseason workouts designed by Harris.
