John Parden is consistently the low scorer for the Tiger golf team in match play. Though he has only taken up the game in the past four years, Parden’s scores in the regulation nine-hole high school play hover at or slightly above par at around 39.

Parden’s consistency could be attributed to his work ethic. Every day the team doesn’t have a match he said he goes to the Demopolis Country Club to practice. Parden said he either hits range balls, works on his putting and chipping on the greens or plays a round with friends to sharpen his skills.

The work has paid off and the young man, who started playing to spend time with his granddad has managed his lowest score on the golf team, 36, during some of the most adverse conditions the group has faced yet this season, playing in the rain at the Ravine.

Parden said come next season he hopes to improve further and maybe even land a scholarship to play at a school of higher learning after high school. He said he and Black have talked about contacting schools to look at him play.