media day on Aug. 6, 2026, at Southern Gap High School. Kneeling, from left, are Ben Mayhew, Braden
Hopkins, Jackson Deel, Mason Boyd and Ayden Whited. Standing, from left, are Parker Hughes, Jaxon
Hardin, Ethan Deel, Levi Tackett, Jansen Davis, Gavin Hartford, Carter Deel and Wyatt Street. Not pictured
is Jase Hurley.
Southern Gap High School’s golf program is new, but the Eagles are not starting from scratch.
Head coach Preston Hibbitts, who served as Grundy High School’s head golf coach for many seasons, has inherited an experienced roster of golfers from now defunct Council, Grundy, Hurley, and Twin Valley High Schools. Many competed against one another in the Black Diamond District, and several have advanced to regional tournaments with their former schools.
Preston Hibbitts is leading the Eagles
during the program’s inaugural season.
“I feel honored by being the first golf coach for SGHS,” Hibbitts said. “I hope the program will be a good tradition of quality golf.”
Instead of building a team filled with beginners, Hibbitts faced the challenge of combining four established programs into one.
“We are very lucky in this regard,” Hibbitts said. “We had good programs at every former county high school. So, we only needed to find a way to knit these kids together into one program.”
That process has been helped by the friendships the golfers formed while competing in the Black Diamond District.
“High school golf teams in the county have been close for the last few years,” Hibbitts said. “We played together in the BOD and there were a lot of great friendships built. That has carried over to SGHS. We have a great and cohesive team.”
Leading the Eagles is senior Mason Boyd, a three-time Black Diamond District Player of the Year who enters the season as one of Southwest Virginia’s most accomplished returning golfers.
Boyd has competed on the Blue Ridge Junior Golf Tour, earned numerous medalist honors and advanced to the state tournament. He made Southern Gap history in the Eagles’ first match by shooting a 38 and earning medalist honors.
“Mason is the most experienced golfer we have,” Hibbitts said. “He has played a lot of golf. He’s competed on the Blue Ridge Junior Golf Tour, he has won countless medalist honors, and has competed in the state tournament. Mason is also one of the most humble people I know and is not afraid to help his teammates. I am thankful we have such a great player and person as team leader.”
Boyd’s performance helped Southern Gap win its first match at Willowbrook Golf Course and gave the golf program the first athletic victory in school history.
“It was cool to write our names in the record books,” Hibbitts said. “For as long as SGHS exists, the golf team will always have the first win in school history. I hope it is a good omen for SGHS athletics.”
The Eagles finished that historic match with a team score of 170. Honaker placed second at 185, followed by East Ridge, Kentucky, at 201; Southern Gap’s junior varsity team at 205; and River View, West Virginia, at 223.
Southern Gap’s golfers understood that they were establishing the first marks in the school’s record book. Hibbitts even instructed his players to contact him if they recorded a birdie so the golf ball could be saved for the school’s trophy case.
“We had talked about how we would be setting benchmarks before the match,” Hibbitts said. “Players had standing orders to call me if they made a birdie so we could save the ball for the trophy case. Everyone really enjoyed being part of Eagles sports history.”
The strong opening was not a one-match performance. Southern Gap followed it with an impressive showing at Holston Hills in Marion.
“The thing I’ve been most impressed with has been the level we are capable of bringing onto the course,” Hibbitts said. “In our first match our team posted the best team score of any I have ever coached. In our second tournament of the season we also posted the best score one of my teams has ever had at Holston Hills. It was also the first time [No change — inside direct quotation; confirm with reporter if needed] scoring less than 90 in the same match.”
Experience is expected to be one of Southern Gap’s biggest strengths as the Eagles enter the Southwest District.
“This team has a lot of experience,” Hibbitts said. “Several players have participated in junior tours and more than half the team has participated in regional tournaments as members of the former high schools. I think that will prove to be important as we enter the Southwest District.”
The Eagles will be challenged by a district that includes defending state champion Graham, along with Lebanon, Marion, Richlands, Tazewell and Virginia High. Hibbitts believes Southern Gap can compete for the district’s second regional qualifying position.
“The SWD is tough,” Hibbitts said. “Graham is the defending state champion and has a stacked team this season, but we believe we can compete for the 2nd qualifying spot out of the district.”
Southern Gap has already faced several district opponents during the tournament at Holston Hills. The Eagles finished well ahead of Richlands, Tazewell and Virginia High and were within striking distance of Marion on its home course.
Senior leadership will be important for the Eagles. In addition to Boyd, the roster features seniors Braden Hopkins, Ayden Whited, Jackson Deel and Ben Mayhew.
Junior Jaxon Hardin has also made an early impression.
“Jaxon Hardin has really impressed me in the first two contests,” Hibbitts said. “I had seen him play good golf for Hurley last year, but I was surprised at his level here at the beginning of the season.”
The Eagles’ younger golfers include sophomores Ethan Deel, Wyatt Street, Carter Deel and Parker Hughes; freshmen Gavin Hartford and Jansen Davis; and eighth-graders Jase Hurley and Levi Tackett.
Hibbitts pointed to Hurley and Hartford as two younger players with bright futures.
“We also have some promising younger players such as Jase Hurley and Gavin Hartford [Inside direct quotation — verify with reporter; possible missing word],” Hibbitts said. “They have a lot of potential as they progress.”
While Southern Gap has already demonstrated its ability to post competitive scores, Hibbitts said the golfers must continue working on course management and their decision-making during rounds.
“We need to work on improving our course management,” Hibbitts said. “The varsity guys know how to hit a golf ball. We need to improve decision making during the round. Golf is much more complicated than hitting a ball.”
The varsity team’s goals are to remain competitive and earn the respect of the Southwest District. Southern Gap’s junior varsity golfers will focus on gaining experience, learning the game and improving throughout the season.
Hibbitts said the players’ confidence and team spirit have been as encouraging as their scores.
“I can’t point to one specific area since it varies greatly from player to player, but I really like their spirit,” Hibbitts said. “They believe we can play with the SWD schools and make a good showing.”
Wins, individual honors and postseason appearances will help measure the Eagles’ first season, but Hibbitts believes success in high school athletics goes beyond a scorecard.
“I want my players to learn something and have fun,” Hibbitts said. “If they improve at golf, build friendships, and have a good time, I will be happy. High school sports are formative, not performative.”
As the Eagles begin establishing their own identity, Hibbitts wants Buchanan County residents to know that the players are proud to represent Southern Gap.
“I’d like the community to know that we are representing the school proudly and we would like to thank them for their support,” he said.
With an experienced roster, a three-time district player of the year leading the way and a historic victory already secured, the Eagles appear ready to establish Southern Gap as a program capable of competing for championships for years to come.
