TUNICA, Miss. (WMC) – The first-ever “Border Bash” tournament, showcased some of the best high school talent in Memphis and North Mississippi.

The tournament happened on Monday at Tunica National.

“Oh I think it was awesome,” said event organizer and DeSoto Central golf head coach Andy Odle.

Last year for the first time, the Mississippi High School Activities Association allowed golf to be played in the fall which sparked an idea.

Odle put together a preseason tournament with some of the top players across the Tennessee-Mississippi border.

“The goal was just to get out here and play,” said Odle. “Kind of see where everybody’s at.”

Odle reached out to some coaches with the idea, and they loved it. Twelve boys teams and nine girls squads came out for the inaugural event.

“One-hundred and two of the best players in Memphis, Shelby County, North Mississippi, even as far down as Biloxi,” said Odle. “So, extremely competitive.”

Individual and team champions were crowned. On the boy’s team side, MUS reigned supreme.

“It’s just a great feeling,” said Sujay Mukatira, a golfer for MUS. “You know to have a competitive atmosphere, means a lot just to go out and be able to compete with some good players.”

In the girl’s team competition, New Albany was victorious, with Odle’s team from DeSoto Central taking home second.

“It’s definitely a fun experience,” said Esther Kim, a DeSoto Central golfer. “The competition here is amazing. I mean I played against some good girls, and we all just left it out on the golf course.”

Year one of the Border Bash is in the books, but this is just the beginning for Odle, who hopes to expand those borders sooner rather than later.

“Little Rock, Nashville, schools around there,” said Odle of how he wants to grow the tournament. “I mean if we’re gonna call it a ‘Border Bash’ let’s get everybody involved. The best of the best.”

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