Spring Sports previews - golf

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on March 8, 2004 1:55 PM

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Rosewood

Coach -- Tom Tipton, sixth season

Last season -- missed the regional tournament

Gone -- no one

Back -- Blake Blanton should be the team leader; Joey Wagner will give a boost to the middle of the team.

Outlook -- Tipton wants to grow on last season's results and hope to stay with the fast-growing programs at Spring Creek and Ayden-Grifton. "These programs are led by great coaches and team members," he said. "We hope to stay stong and healthy to place our best showing thus far."

North Lenoir

Coach -- Reggie Jenkins, fifth season

Last season -- 22-5, second in Eastern Plains 2-A conference

Gone -- Evan Taylor and Tyler Bridgers

Back -- James Parker and Blair Crews; Spencer Hill transfered in from Parrott Academy

Outlook -- The Hawks have no seniors and four juniors. But while they are weaker than the past season, Jenkins feels the entire conference has weakened. Tarboro and South West Edgecombe are the teams to beat. Hill is a four handicap and that will bosst North Lenoir's chances, espeically if sophomore Crews and junior Parker can deliver consistent rounds. Jenkins predicts a third-or fourth-place finish.

Charles B. Aycock

Coach -- Gary Hales, first season

Last season -- not known

Gone -- Trent Pilkington, Brandon Campbell, Josh Phillips all graduated; Ernie Campbell will not play

Back -- Johnathan Burke, Ryan Walderman; Dustin Smith came in from the baseball team, JV player Ryan Campbell is up this season

Outlook -- Hales had four golfers shoot in the 70s at Wedgewood in first match of the season. That boosted his confidence, saying while he knows little about the conference or its teams, he thinks Aycock can contend for the conference title. "They have been out there on their own (in the off-season)," said Hales. "When you have four guys in the 70s in the opener, that's pretty good."

Greene Central

Coach -- Lewis Godwin, ninth season

Last season -- 6-29, fourth place in conference

Gone -- none

Back -- Daniel Creech, Brandon Jones, Colby Murphy

Outlook -- nothing reported

Spring Creek

Coach -- Tom Moore, fifth season

Last season -- third in conference, seventh in regionals

Gone -- Josh Frederick is the lone graduate from the team

Back -- Billy Ham, Brandon Payson, Stephen Warren

Outlook -- Moore is pleased with the Gators' chances for a conference title this season, with Rosewood and Ayden-Grifton as the prime competition. Payson and Warren did a lot of off-season work, and Moore is confident about Ham's game coming around, he noted sophomore Pat Wilkins' improving ball-striking. "We'll see how hungry we are," Moore said.

Eastern Wayne

Coach -- Robert Peele,

Last season -- not reported

Gone -- Three seniors from last year

Back -- Miles Perry, Robert Garris, Ryan Dunn, Lance Ramsey, Adam Bouchard; Brandon Turner, a transfer from the Midwest, is on the team

Outlook -- Everyone has at least a little experience, according to Peele. The coach has set as a goal a team score at the 320 mark, and the team imrpoved 13 strokes in its second match from it's first. West Carteret and kinston look to be the top conference teams, and Charlers B. Aycock is a team Peele expects to contend. "If we can get our scores down we should be in the mix," he said.

Teams that did not report -- Southern Wayne, North Johnston, North Duplin