By By BRUCE HIXON – Sports Editor
Robbie Cotten thought he had a chance to at least be competitive.
Yet Cotten still climbed to the top of the 78-player field at last weekend's Alabama Golf Association State Mid-Amateur Tournament held at the Country Club of Brewton.
The 1984 graduate of T.R. Miller High School fired rounds of 69, 67 and 70 for a combined score of 10-under-par 206 and won the tournament by six strokes over his closest competitor, which was Jay Hughes of Decatur.
Only Cotten, Hughes (four-under-par 212) and third place finisher Steve Hudson of Birmingham (one-under-par 215) finished below par.
Last weekend's appearance was Cotten's 10th in the state mid amateur tournament. He won it back in 1999 and finished second in 2000.
Cotten felt accuracy and putting were the keys to his victory.
In order to participate in the state mid-amateur tournament, one has to be either a member of a club that belongs to the Alabama Golf Association or have a handicap below 8.4. Cotten's current handicap is 3.8.
Cotten said winning the state mid-amateur tournament will lead to invitations for him to play in some bigger tournaments over the next year.
It could be the postseason may be starting about a week too late for the T.R. Miller Lady Tigers.
A week ago T.R. Miller was riding high with a school record seven-game winning streak. Now with the postseason just a day away, the Lady Tigers have picked the wrong time to go into a slump.
T.R. Miller suffered its third straight loss Thursday when it dropped a 25-23, 25-21 decision to Leroy in the front end of a tri-match played at Thomasville. The Lady Tigers had beaten Leroy in two previous meetings.
Joy McCorvey notched a team high eight kills, while Shandreka Foster had five kills with five blocks. Emily Layton generated six assists on offense.
T.R. Miller (15-10) was finally able to right its ship in the nightcap when it beat Thomasville for the third time this season with a 25-15, 25-14 win.
Layton had six straight points in the opener and Vivian Muth had five straight in the nightcap. Foster and McCorvey each had seven kills.
TR. Miller dropped its third decision in as many tries to Flomaton Tuesday when it fell 25-18, 25-22, 25-23 on the Lady Hurricanes home court.
McCorvey posted eight kills and five blocks to lead the net game, while Foster had five kills and three blocks. Terri Lynne Peacock came up with 10 digs on defense. Muth served up a trio of aces.
T.R. Miller's junior varsity closed out a 6-2 campaign Tuesday when it beat Flomaton 25-22, 13-25, 17-16.
Leslie Nalty had a six-point service string and Morgan Hubbard reeled off five in a row during the match. Rachel Bostic posted three kills.