Columbus’ Chris Parker named All-Bi-City Boys Golf Coach of the Year

The Columbus boys golf team entered 2017 with high expectations and the aim to win its second straight state championship. When the season was said and done, head coach Chris Parker’s golfers did just that.

The Blue Devils dominated most of their competition this year, winning seven of their 11 tournaments and finishing runner-up in the other four. Columbus’ stellar play was again on display in the Class 4A state championship tournament when the Blue Devils won the rain-shortened event by 15 strokes.

The title was Parker’s fourth at the helm of the boys golf program. Thanks to the team’s stellar performances, Parker has been selected as the All-Bi-City Boys Golf Coach of the Year.

“I’m just real proud of them,” Parker said. “Just because you’re a favorite to win doesn’t mean you’re going to win. They still went out there and did what they needed to do and performed very well. Like they say in other sports, big-time players make big-time plays in big games. They’re all big-time players.”

Parker said the expectations were high entering the year considering the team returned its top 7 players from 2016. The golfers met their goals again and again in a season that saw Columbus post a 155-4 head-to-head record and a team stroke average of 291.9, the lowest Parker has had in his 24 seasons as head coach.

A major component in Parker’s leadership is the Blue Devils playing in the top tournaments in the Southeast on a yearly basis. That was the case again this year, as Columbus took second in the Georgia-South Carolina Challenge Cup in Duncan, S.C., and won the Hardaway Invitational in Columbus.

In Parker’s eyes, those elite tournaments are necessary to prepare his players for the state tournament.

“It’s certainly a big help and something we always want to do, to try and provide as good competition for our kids as we can throughout the year,” Parker said. “It’s good to play against the best teams from all classifications. It certainly does nothing but helps you prepare to get better and be at the top of your game once the state tournament rolls around.”

Parker said he had full confidence in the team leading up to the state tournament, which was held at the Columbus Country Club, the team’s home course. His trust in his players proved warranted, as three of his golfers — son Jonathan, Nolan Miller and Ben Carr —shot under 70.

The rainout of the second day thwarted the team’s plan to post a two-day score that would be a record for years to come, but considering the Blue Devils still won the championship, it wasn’t something many lingered on.

Parker said his golfers never showed any signs of distress when the big moments arrived.

“They certainly didn’t flinch,” Parker said. “They really don’t feel a whole lot of pressure. I think most of my kids play better in tournaments than they do if they’re just practicing. They’ve just got that level of experience.”

Parker said the outgoing senior class, which includes Miller, Daniel Davis and Ben Womack, have had the best four-year stretch in his time as head coach. They finished second in state as freshmen, fifth as sophomores and won consecutive titles as juniors and seniors. They won region or area every single year, won the Joe King Memorial Golf Tournament in Alabama and captured three Hardaway Invitational tournaments.

Parker will be tasked with replacing the production of these three seniors, but considering the returning talent and his reputation as a coach, you can expect Columbus to again be in the thick of things come 2018.

This story was originally published June 20, 2017 at 3:31 PM with the headline "Columbus’ Chris Parker named All-Bi-City Boys Golf Coach of the Year."