Family members look on as multi-sport player Jack Leach signs scholarship papers to play golf at Walters State Community College. (Left to right) Dad Brian, sister Drew, Jack and mom Renee’.

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – Campbell Cougar Jack Leach played on a middle school state championship team, came close to a state title in high school and has his sights set on a junior college national championship. On Wednesday morning, Leach made it official. He’ll play golf for Walters State Community College at Morristown and Coach Brad Hawkins.

“He can bomb it a mile and has a really good short game,” said Hawkins, who played on the PGA Tour for five years. Needless to say, Hawkins is excited to have Leach join the Walters State program which is ranked second in the country.

Leach’s father Brian, who played golf at Campbell High and in college at LMU, is as proud about Jack’s choosing Walters State. “I wanted him to join a winning team and help them win a national junior college title,” Brian Leach said.

Dad Brian loves the coach and calls him an excellent coach. “I like the way he (Coach Hawkins) holds his players to a very high standard on the course and in the classroom. He follows up on them and their classwork,” said Leach.

Jack Leach, brown shirt, shares his big day with his coach and teammates.

Aside from Tuesday’s excitement surrounding Leach’s signing with the Senators, there was a while when it appeared that Leach’s career might have ended at the conclusion of the high school season. “I’m glad he’s going to give it a chance. He’d thought he wasn’t going to go to the next level when high school golf was over,” said Leach’s mother Renee’, who never missed a school match.

Leach’s high school coach, Michael Cain, describes Coach Hawkins as a coach who is really good about placing his players at a four-year school. “I’m very excited for him,” added Cain. Walters State plays in a lot of NCAA Division I and II tournaments. “It’s a chance for our golfers to get in front of those big school coaches, get to know them and their players,” said Hawkins.

Leach plays tennis, basketball and golf for the Cougars, and even though Wednesday in the CCHS Auditorium was his signing day, his thoughts turned right back to basketball after inking the papers. Soon, it will be on to tennis before hitting the links heading through the warm season and onto Walters State and preparation for a run at a national title. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 01/13/2022-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S JOSH PARKER)

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