Union’s Ogletree secures second win on Asian Tour
Union’s Andy Ogletree won his second Asian Tour event this week in the $2.5 million International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club.
Ogletree shot 7-under par to win the event by three strokes and take home a $450,000 check. It’s another confidence booster for the former U.S. Amateur champion and for low amateur at The Masters.
“I think it just comes from all the work that I’ve put in,” said former LIV Golfer Ogletree in an interview with Golf Digest. “I’ve worked really hard this off-season post Egypt, and just have a lot of confidence because I work so hard. I don’t think anyone wants it more than me. I want to keep giving myself more opportunities and this is the route that I can do that. So, I’m really focused, and trying to win the Order of Merit out here is my No. 1 goal this year, and that’s all I’m really focused on. And you got to win to do that, so this feels great.”
Ogletree moved to the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit and International Series OOM thanks to an outstanding start to the season. He finished ninth in the season-opening PIF Saudi International and tied for seventh in last week’s International Series Oman.
“I mean, confidence wise, I don’t know how I could get a lot higher. My last six starts internationally, four top-10s and two wins, so I think I’m playing really good golf,” he said. “I’m executing my game plan really well and kind of eliminating some of the silly mistakes. I had a couple today, but throughout the week this week it was really good tee to green. Eliminating three putts, eliminating short-sided iron shots, eliminating bogeys with wedges and eliminating bogeys on par fives is just kind of the goal. So that’s how I define how I’m playing, if I’m doing those things, and I’ve done that really well the last few weeks.”
Newton County tennis opens season with 4-3 win over St. Andrew’s
The Newton County tennis team opened the season with a tight one-match win over St. Andrew’s, winning 4-3.
The two teams split the singles matches as Tate Baucum won the boys side, winning 7-5, 4-6, 10-8. Josie Tullos lost in girls singles, falling 6-3, 6-3.
In boys doubles, Newton County took both matches as Cade Cooley and Braiden Estes won 6-2, 7-6(3) at the No. 1 spot while Caiden Chaney and Hayes Holliman won 6-4, 6-4 at the No. 2 spot.
In girls doubles, St. Andrew’s took both points as Aleah McMullan lost 7-6(3), 6-4 at the No. 1 spot while Emma Beckwith and Ellie Russell lost 6-3, 6-2 at the No. 2 spot.
In mixed doubles, Cole Padlock and Samantha Boykin won 6-4, 3-6, 10-7 in a third-set tiebreaker to give Newton County the win.
Union tennis opens season with shutout win over Meridian
The Union tennis team opened the season in fine fashion as they took a shutout win over Meridian on Tuesday.
in singles, Ethan Brasher won 6-1, 6-2 on the boys side while Kinsley Johnson won 6-1, 6-4 on the girls side.
In boys doubles, Jude Feasel and Hunter Sullivan won 6-0, 6-4 at the No. 1 spot while Jackson Johnson and Jackson Whittle won 6-3, 6-0 at the No. 2 spot.
In girls doubles, Cecilia Burrough and Denver McCoy won 6-0, 6-1 at the No. 1 spot while Annley Howell and Ava Smith won 6-3, 6-4 at the No. 2 spot.
In mixed doubles, Rylee Pullin and Cory Smith won 6-0, 6-0 to complete the sweep.
Alderman gets off to good start for Ole Miss
Newton County Academy’s Kemp Alderman and the Ole Miss Rebels opened the season with a sweep of Delaware.
Alderman started all three games in left field and batted third in the lineup for the defending national champions.
In the opener, Alderman was 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI as the Rebels won 11-2. In game two, Ole Miss won 10-0 as Alderman walked three times and scored two runs. In game three, Ole Miss won 14-4 and Alderman was 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs.
Ole Miss will play Arkansas State on Tuesday before host Maryland this weekend in a three-game series.
Union City baseball, softball T-ball signups
The City of Union will have its annual youth T-ball, baseball and softball signups for ages 4-12 from Feb. 1-24. The cost is $50 per child. To register your children for the upcoming season, bring your registration forms and fees to Union City Hall during normal business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Send your sports news to The Newton County Appeal. Email your photos, game scores and other sports news to sports@newtoncountyappeal.com. Please send in events at least two weeks ahead of time. Please identify all persons in photos.
