Bradberry Finishes Second at State, Makes McKenzie Golf History

SEVIERVILLE (October 5-6) — McKenzie junior Ethan Bradberry recorded the highest individual state tournament finish in school golf history with a tie for second at the 2026 state tournament.

Bradberry shot a two-day total of 146, posting rounds of 71 and 75. His second-place finish is the best by a McKenzie golfer, male or female, at the state tournament.

Bradberry’s finish surpassed the previous best performances of Nolan Fawcett, who tied for fourth two years ago, and Maggie Glass, who finished fourth in 2019.

Glass remains the only McKenzie golfer with three top-10 finishes at state. She finished 10th in 2018, fourth in 2019 and tied for eighth in 2020. Ashley Beal McGaha finished sixth in 1995 during the Lady Rebels’ first state tournament appearance. Johnathan Moore finished nineth in 2020. Ace Brown tied for eighth in 2024, and Charli Weatherford tied for eighth in 2025.

McKenzie golfers have now recorded nine top-10 finishes at the state tournament, accomplished by seven different players.

Bradberry’s performance came against what McKenzie coach Tyler Holt called one of the strongest fields in tournament history.

“That was the stoutest field I’ve ever seen or heard of in that tournament,” Holt said. “Sixty-three percent of the rounds were in the 70s, and I’m pretty sure it was the stoutest team field since they invented A/AA.”

McKenzie finished the two-day tournament with a team score of 630. The Rebels did not finish in the hardware, but Holt said this year’s scores showed the strength of the field.

The average team score was 617, compared with an average of 635 in 2002. According to Holt, McKenzie’s score of 630 would not have finished last in any previous state tournament.

“Our 630 would have never finished last in any other tournament,” Holt said. “Matter of fact, it would have won it five times and came in second 13 times.”

McKenzie entered the state tournament after winning the district championship with a team score of 308. Bradberry won the individual district championship with a 73, while Fawcett finished second with a 75. 

*Information Courtesy Tim McBride