Polk County's Pat McCool, far right, led the Wolverines to a seventh-place showing at this year's state 1A tournament

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Polk County boys golf coach Pat McCool has been named the All-Western North Carolina Coach of the Year by the Citizen-Times in Asheville.

McCool led the Wolverines to a third-place showing in the 1A West Regional and a spot in the 1A state tournament, the only WNC team to qualify for state competition.

Polk County placed seventh at the state tourney. Four of the five players who competed in the state event will return next season.

Owen junior Carson Murphy was named the All-WNC Boys Golfer of the Year after placing third in the 2A state championship. Four other Western Highlands Conference golfers were named to either the All-WNC first or second teams, with all being current juniors or sophomores.

Polk County will rejoin the WHC this fall.