By Sam Johnson, Special to The Messenger
Three local high school golfers have recently been highlighted and given opportunities to continue their athletic career at the collegiate level. Southside High School’s Justin Lovoy and Westbrook Christian School’s Cove McHugh and JD Berndt (pictured below) have garnered the attention of a few college golf programs.
Justin Lovoy
Lovoy (pictured below, at right) is a senior on the Panther’s golf team. He is currently committed to playing golf at Snead State Community College. His current tournament low round is a 70 — which is two under par.
Lovoy says his favorite memory of his high school career came during a playoff hole during the Gadsden area tournament for low medalist. He says the feeling of looking over and seeing all his teammates cheer him on was something he will always remember. Lovoy hopes to compete well in the sectional and state tournaments coming up later this spring.
Cove McHugh
McHugh is a senior on Westbrook’s golf team. He plans to sign a scholarship to play at Snead State Community College on April 25. McHugh has been one of the top five players on Westbrook’s team since he was in seventh grade. His short game has been the best on the team the past six years. Now a senior, he also boasts the longest drive on the team averaging 310 yards from the tee box.
McHugh has played in the state championship match every year since seventh grade. McHugh was part of the Warrior team that won back-to-back state championships in 2023 and 2024. His best round so far this year is a 73 — one over par. He was selected for all state in 2024 and was named MVP during the North/South all state tournament last summer. McHugh says his favorite memory from his high school career so far is winning back-to-back state championships.
JD Berndt
Berndt is a senior on Westbrook’s golf team. He plans to sign a scholarship with Jackson State University on April 25. Berndt joined the Warrior golf team as a freshman and has remained in the top five for the past four years. He was an enormous part of Westbrook’s back-to-back state championship seasons. Berndt is usually quite busy in the spring. In addition to winning state championships in golf as a sophomore and junior, he was competing on the soccer field as well.
Berndt was named an all-state selection in soccer and even competed for a state championship in both soccer and golf the spring of his sophomore year. Now a senior, Berndt decided to just focus on golf. His coach says the decision has paid dividends and is now the best putter on the team. His low round in competition came as a junior where he shot a 70 — which is two under par. Like McHugh, Berndt says his favorite memory as a Warrior golf athlete was winning back-to-back state championships.
