Daniel Bowen (left) and Dillon Childers (right), Danville seniors, sign scholarships with Martin Methodist College while golf coach Matt Rackley looks on. | Brent Maze

Daniel Bowen and Dillon Childers will continue to play golf together for a few more years after the two Danville seniors signed golf scholarships with Martin Methodist College in Pulaski, Tenn., last week.

Childers is a +2 handicap while Bowen is a +5 handicap on the links. The two were also the No. 1 and No. 2 players for Danville on the golf team this year.

Both went up to Martin Methodist a few weeks ago to try out for the team. Childers had a 38 on nine holes while Bowen shot a 42.

“Coach said that score was pretty good considering we were playing from the college tees,” Bowen said. “He said it will take us about a year to get adjusted to the extra length of the college game.”

The two faced difficult competition playing against the likes of Bob Jones and Hoover and then competing against the private schools in Class 3A. Both shot low rounds in each of those events.

In fact, Childers qualified for state as an individual. He finished 25th overall, a tournament that was shortened to 27 holes instead of 36 due to inclement weather and darkness.

“I was the only person from a private school in my group,” Childers said. “It was a great atmosphere to play at state. There were a lot of great golfers down there and it was fun to play the course.”

Like many golfers, Childers said the aspect of his game that needs improvement most is putting.

“If I can drive and putt well, I’m going to have a good round because chipping is probably the best aspect of my game,” Childers said.

Bowen said he has to work on his all around short game.

“It all begins with putting,” Bowen said. “If you can putt well, you’re going to play well.” One of the things that Martin Methodist coach Matt Rackley said he liked about Bowen and Childers was their attitude on the golf course.

“The have a good golf game and good character on the golf course,” Rackley said. “They keep their emotions in check and that’s something that really stood out for us.”

Childers is the son of Tammy and Nick Stover while Bowen’s parents are Dennis and Leshia Bowen.