Golf is called a game of inches, and if you have ever played the game, you know the rewarding feeling of a good shot and the deflating feeling of a bad one. Those inches can feel like miles when the stakes are high.

For White House Heritage High School junior Greyson Koch, golf has become a competitive endeavor in which he has found significant success. This fall, Greyson’s mastery on the course led him to victory in the Class A Boys State Golf Championship at Sevierville Golf Club, becoming the first Robertson County student ever to hold this title.

Koch’s journey to becoming a state champion was no accident — it was a reflection of his dedicated work ethic. His weekly routine included up to 25 hours of practice honing his skills at Heritage’s home course, The Legacy in Springfield. Greyson treated practice like a part-time job, analyzing every misstep from previous rounds and correcting those shots until he got them right.

“Almost every day after school, I would head to the course and spend 2-4 hours on the putting green working on my short game fundamentals,” Greyson shared when asked about the time it took to become state champion. “I would play practice competitive rounds Saturday and Sunday, and whatever I didn’t do well in, I would work on all week.”

His commitment to the sport has been noticed by his coach, Emily Nicholson, since early on in their time together. Nicholson shared that Greyson joined the golf team during his 8th-grade year and made improvements every year, but one thing that stood out was his drive to improve.

“Greyson works so hard, and I would argue that it’s unmatched by anyone in the state,” says Emily. “The day after winning the state tournament, he was back on the golf course. He does the work even when no one is watching.”

Playing against the best golfers in the state, a few small mistakes can lead to disastrous results, and Greyson was no stranger to battling against adversity. Finishing his first round at even-par 72, holding steady in second place, he carried that momentum into a fast start in his second round, birdieing three of his first four holes. Even after a bogey on the fifth and double bogeys on the eighth and ninth, Greyson stayed focused and fought hard, tapping in a championship-clinching birdie putt on the 16th hole that gave him a one-stroke lead with two holes remaining.

“Going into the season, a state title was something I’d only hoped to one day achieve,” Greyson shared. “Being the first one from Robertson County to win a title like this hopefully paves the path for others to follow after I graduate high school. I’m grateful for the chance to compete on such a high level.”

Greyson points to his golf instructor, Barney Alary, as one who has influenced the way he approaches the game. Knowing that golf has a way of humbling players of all skill levels at any point during a round, Greyson shares that Alary has helped him learn how to respond to setbacks.

With a year of high school still remaining, Greyson will now focus his attention on preparing for the Tennessee Jr. Amateur in June 2025, sharing that his goal is to win it all. With a senior season in front of him, he hopes to defend his state title by going then continue his golfing career in college at the Division I level.