Photo Courtesy The Lexington Dispatch

Central Davidson Captures 2-A Championship 

By HUNTER CHASE

Experience, depth and a little bit of luck helped Central Davidson claim the North Carolina Athletic Association state 2-A golf championship held at Woodlake Country Club in Vass May 13-14.

 The Spartans edged runner-up Charlotte Catholic by one stroke, 632-633, in its fifth consecutive journey to the state championship. Their previous highest finish in a state event was fifth, including last season when playing on the 3-A level in the championship that was also held at Woodlake.

Playing on the 2-A level this season, the senior-laden Spartans used their familiarity with the 6,283-yard, par-72 Palmer layout to overcome gusty winds and hard greens to claim the school’s first state championship.

“The senior experience helped and playing the course before helped,” Spartan coach Steve Reynolds said. “Our scores were up this year, but with the way the wind was blowing and how hard the greens got scores were blown up for everyone. But you have to be good and you have to be lucky. We’ve got a good bunch of kids and we’re also lucky.”

A steady wind of 15-to-20 mph with the occasional gust in the 30-mph range both days, created havoc for all 12 teams entered in the competition. After the first day of play, the Spartans and High Point Andrews were tied for the lead at 313, 25 strokes over-par, but one stroke in front of Charlotte Catholic.

“With the way the wind was blowing, it was hard to score,” Reynolds said. “The course is not difficult in length, but you have to put the ball in the right place.”

With Tommy Manning’s 76 leading the way, the Spartans carded a 319 the second day, which Charlotte Catholic matched. High Point Andrews ballooned to a 326, good enough for a third-place finish at 639. Western Guilford claimed fourth with a 641.

Rounding out the scoreboard were South Brunswick, 646; Pisgah and Holmes, 650 each; Lincolnton, 664; Tarboro, 670; North Surry, 674; Graham, 686; and Randleman, 688.

Manning, the Central Carolina Conference player of the year who was participating in his fourth state tournament, had a tough first day carding an 80, but proved his mettle by coming back with his four-over-par effort on the second day.

“Those were the hardest two days of golf I’ve ever played in my life – bar none,” Manning said.

Junior Stevie Skipper, the only non-senior on the squad, was the most consistent of the Spartans. He opened with a 77 and followed that up with a 79 on the second day to lead Central Davidson with a 156 total.

“He (Skipper) took two big numbers, but other than that he hit the ball well,” Reynolds said. The junior took an 8 on a par-4 the first day and ended his second day by carding an eight on the par-5 finishing hole.

Although disappointed in his first day’s effort, Manning said he told himself before the start of Tuesday’s round that, “I’m here to help the team and that’s what I had to do.”

Manning’s final 157 total was matched by senior teammate Michael Hedrick, who carded a 77 the first day and followed that up with an 80.

Chad Beasley’s 78 the first day and David Eckert’s second-day 84 rounded out the Spartans total. Eckert, much like Manning, came back determined to help the team on the second day after posting a first-round score of 91.

Also playing for Central Davidson was Adam Griffith.

“We’ll definitely miss the seniors,” Reynolds said. “But we lost Rodney Thomas off last year’s team (playing at N.C. State this year where he finished sixth in the ACC tournament), and we did all right. But I have to admit we had a little more depth this year.”

Sean Moore of Forest Hills took medalist honors with a 70-74 — 144, five strokes better than second-place finisher and defending champion Tripp Reynolds of Shelby.

 STATE 4-A CHAMPIONSHIP

 It wasn’t quite as easy as last year’s 48-stroke romp, but Raleigh Broughton, for the fifth-consecutive year, claimed the state 4-A golf championship.

Broughton trailed first-round leader West Mecklenburg by five strokes entering the second day of competition at Pinehurst No. 8, but rallied with a second day 311 on its way to a two-day total of 624. Millbrook finished second with a 630, while first-round leader West Mecklenburg ballooned to a second-day 327 on its way to finishing nine strokes behind the Capitals.

Webb Simpson led the second-day charge for Broughton with a 73. Simpson (73-73 — 146) finished two shots back of medalist Brendan Todd of Green Hope. Todd, who won medalist honors two years ago, finished with a 71-73 — 144.