Suwardika reaches regional tournament for second straight season

For the second consecutive season, Jeslyn Suwardika has qualified for the region tournament representing the Cocke County golf program.

The sophomore shot an 85 at the district tournament in Morristown on Monday, putting her into the region tournament next Monday at Ridgefields Golf and Athletic Club in Kingsport.

Freshman golfer Rider Finchum broke 100, which is “no small feat over there,” according to head coach Will Lewis. “This season has been a good learning experience for him.”

Lewis offered the same on sophomore Lofton Ford, who shot a 113, per Lewis.

Now, Suwardika will prepare for her second consecutive regional tourney, as she will compete for the chance to move on to the state tournament.

But to do that, she will need the kind of mental fortitude she displayed on Monday afternoon in Morristown.

“That course is a mental test as much as anything,” said Lewis. “She hit a fairly poor drive off her first hole, but she didn’t get down or distracted. Kept in play, hit lots of fairways and avoided the big number, which is tough to do on that course and under a little pressure.”