State Champions: SBS Varsity Men’s Golf Wins by One Stroke
Led by Head Golf Coach Jenny Murdock, the five-member team—Carson Elder ‘25, Matthew Elder ‘25, Jake Miers ‘25, Christopher Torn ‘26 and William Carlson ‘28—entered the tournament determined to finish what they started. Just weeks earlier, they narrowly lost to The Woodlands Christian Academy at regionals by one stroke. In the state championship, they hoped to flip the script.
“It wasn’t losing that motivated us—it was only losing by one,” said Coach Murdock. “In the past, TWCA has blown the field away by 20 strokes. This year, our team believed they could win.”
The championship, held in Waco, was defined by rain delays and uncertainty. Intermittent storms disrupted the schedule, threatening to shorten the tournament and testing the mental toughness of every competitor.
“The delays were frustrating,” admitted Murdock. “I reminded our boys that the wet course could affect other teams more than us. All five of our players are long hitters and mentally tough—they didn’t let the weather throw them off.”
The team stayed loose and focused through the interruptions, watching sports, playing games and keeping conversation light to distract from the chaos around them. For many, the rain became a surprising source of peace.
“It reminded me that the tournament was in God’s hands,” said Matthew Elder ‘25. “It actually helped calm my mind.”
When play resumed Tuesday for the final nine holes, the Eagles trailed TWCA by two strokes. “We told the boys we didn’t need spectacular—we just needed steady,” said Murdock.
Freshman William Carlson ’28 set the tone early with a strong round of 73. Carson Elder ‘25 drained back-to-back birdies on his final two holes. Christopher Torn ‘26 closed with two par-saving putts from six and nine feet. Under immense pressure on the final hole, senior Matthew Elder ‘25 stuck his tee shot just off the green and calmly made a four-footer to save par.
“As I stood on the 18th tee, I heard the roar when Carson made his putt,” said Torn. “That’s when I knew—we had a chance.”
With each stroke, the energy shifted. Coach Murdock watched the live scoring, realizing the title was within reach. “Every player made every putt from 10 feet and in,” she recalled. “That never happens.”
With grit and precision, the Eagles edged out the competition by a single stroke to win the TAPPS state golf championship.
“These boys have been a team in every sense of the word,” she said. “Every single one of them had the lowest individual score at a tournament this year. They picked each other up, stayed locked in, and believed to the very end.”
For seniors Carson, Matthew and Jake, the championship was the culmination of years of hard work and shared history—many of them have been playing together since middle school.
“I’ll always remember the clutch moments—Torn’s putt, Matthew’s final par, and the look on everyone’s faces when we realized we won,” said Jake Miers ‘25.
Murdock, who has coached these seniors since they were in seventh grade, also celebrated a personal milestone—her first state title as a coach.
“I hadn’t really thought about how I’d feel,” she said. “But this week has been incredible. I’m proud of our boys, proud of this program, and grateful for our coaching staff—especially Coach Charlotta Wharton, who has been a steady presence of support throughout the season”
With talent, tenacity, and teamwork, the Eagles made school history—one shot at a time.