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Top 10 of 2021: No. 5 - Slatton finishes sixth at state
Welcome to the Warren County Sports Authority Top 10 of 2021. Each day until Dec. 31, we will be releasing a new story counting down the top 10 sports stories in Warren County this year. Be sure to check back everyday to see the biggest headlines from this year!
No. 5 - Slatton finishes sixth at state, wins second district title
Lauren Slatton is building a resume that could leave her as Warren County High School’s GOAT golfer by the time she graduates. All she’s missing at this point is a state title, something she seems to get closer to with every season.
The sensational sophomore didn’t have any fall off in her second season representing the Lady Pioneers, finishing sixth in the state and winning the district individual title for Warren County. In just two years, Slatton has made two trips to state (finishing in the top 12 of 40-plus player fields each time), won two district titles and a region title (she was runner-up this year in 4AA).
Still not yet old enough to get her driver’s license, Slatton has shown she’s a young savant when it comes to pounding drives, reading greens and sinking putts. She has all the skills on the course, including an unflappable confidence where she believes she’s just one shot away from turning everything around.
She showed a maturity beyond her years this year in the District 7AA tournament. After starting the tournament 4-over through two holes, she quickly regrouped on the third hole at Bear Trace in Crossville. She bombed a long drive on a Par 5 and completed the hole by sinking a 20-foot birdie putt, jumpstarting what would become a five-stroke victory for the sophomore.
She was just as clutch the next week, when she faced a staked field – including the state’s No. 1 players – to qualify for the state tournament. Needing to get one of the top two spots in a 24-player field, Slatton shot a 3-over – six strokes better than third place at the event.
Third place was where Slatton found herself after Day 1 of the TSSAA state tournament, which was held in Sevierville this year. If not for one hole on second day (she had a triple bogey on her seventh hole), Slatton may have had enough juice to charge up the leaderboard and hoist the state trophy.
The top spot could be waiting for Slatton in 2022. Four of the five players who finished in front of Slatton in the state tournament were seniors, leaving her a path toward the top. Better yet, Slatton will get two more cracks at winning the prestigious tournament before she even turns 18.
By then, she’ll have a good chance of heading to the next level, where she can start dominating even more tournaments.
Make sure to check back Tuesday, Dec. 28 to see the No. 4 story on the WCSA Top 10 Sports List of 2021.
No. 6 – Pioneers win district regular season baseball title: https://www.wcsportsauthority.com/post/top-10-of-2021-no-6-pioneers-win-district-baseball-title
No. 7 – COVID shuts down Pioneer football, causing the first game cancellations in school history: https://www.wcsportsauthority.com/post/top-10-of-2021-no-7-covid-shutdowns-slow-pioneer-football.
No. 8 – Covenant’s year of championships: https://www.wcsportsauthority.com/post/top-10-of-2021-no-8-covenant-wins-multiple-tncaa-titles
No. 9 – Boyd’s special year: https://www.wcsportsauthority.com/post/top-10-of-2021-no-9-boyd-s-special-year
No. 10 – WC Sports Hall of Fame adds 13 members: