LINDEN &8212; Two young golfers from the Marengo Academy golf team have performed well enough in regular season play to qualify to participate in the State AISA Golf Tournament Monday and Tuesday.

Blain Etheridge and Larkin Sumerlin, both seniors at the academy, will load up their clubs at the beginning of next week and travel to a small town south of Montgomery where they will face the best in the state at one of the top courses in Alabama, the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail course in Greenville. The two players were tapped for the honor by performing well in individual play while attending matches with their fellow Longhorns.

To qualify for state team coach Sherri Sumerlin explained, each player must shoot a 90 or below on 18 holes in one of its team&8217;s matches. Since both students have, they were sent invitations for next week&8217;s play.

Etheridge said he shot an 89 on 18 holes at the Linden Country Club during one of the team&8217;s matches against Tristan and Monroe to qualify for state. He said he has been playing golf for around ten years now.

Sumerlin on the other hand has played for only four years but has taken a shinning to the game. He shot an 85 to qualify for his spot in the state tournament, but said he usually shoots lower.

When asked how he expects to stack up against the competition at state, Sumerlin said, &8220;I couldn&8217;t tell. I guess I will do as good as a can.&8221;

To get a leg up on their competitors the two golfers decided to head down to Greenville yesterday and get some playing time on the course where they will face some tough competition. There coach went with the two to help give advice and prepare for the upcoming play Monday and Tuesday.