C.B. Aycock golfers pull away at ECC match

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on April 5, 2005 1:56 PM

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No falling from the perch this time.

A year ago, Charles B. Aycock owned a scant six-stroke lead against nemesis West Carteret and watched it vanish after a tough outing on the par-72 Lane Tree Golf Course. The Patriots eventually claimed the Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference team title.

When the eight teams met again Monday afternoon, the Golden Falcons led West Carteret by 25 strokes. By day's end, their advantage ballooned to 46 strokes after Aycock submitted a match-low, four-player total of 316 compared to 337 for the Patriots.

"I thought they were pretty solid," C.B. Aycock coach Gary Hales said. "Consistency has been much improved this year over last year and that's one big difference as to why we're in the lead."

Hales credited Ryan Campbell and Reding Pittman for the team's success in the fourth ECC match of the season. Campbell turned in a season-low 77 and finished second overall in the medalist race. Pittman carded an 80 in his third outing of the season.

Jonathan Burke, the overall individual leader, provided a 79. Will Vinson mirrored Pittman's effort with an 80.

"Reding coming in with an 80 was a huge score," Hales said. "Any score in the 70s on a breezy day like today was pretty good."

Wind gusts of more than 20 miles per hour and unkind greens challenged the golfers on the 6,304-yard layout. Numerous players hit long drives off the tee or in the fairway that got caught in the wind, and sailed wildly near hazard areas on every hole.

The greens played slow, which caused the players to leave putts short. Golfers also contended with difficult pin placements on several holes.

"It affected a lot of people," Hales said.

But Marshall Fowle didn't seem to be affected. The Washington High standout emerged the medalist at Lane Tree for the second straight year with a 3-over par 75. Fowle trimmed Burke's 11-stroke advantage in the medalist race to seven with four meets remaining.

Eastern Wayne's Miles Perry shook off a slow start, including a bogey on the par-3 12th hole, and finished the day with a 78. Lance Ramsey collected an 84, while teammates Ryan Dunn, Kyle Hamm and Adam Bouchard each turned in 18-hole scores of 86.

The Warriors were second overall in the eight-team match with a 334.

Washington finished four strokes behind West Carteret, followed by South Central (343), Southern Wayne (371) and Kinston (413). West Craven had just three players, which was not enough to record a team score.

Sam Britt led the Saints with an 80. Jay Connelley added a season-best 97. Jared Jackson and Casey Best each contributed a 107.

Hales couldn't have been more pleased with his team's effort on its home course.

"They're capable of doing that every time out ... shooting low scores every round," he said. "It's a matter of keeping our heads and just doing what they have to do. The guys work so hard and it's good to see them get rewarded."

The teams return to action next Monday at the Washington Yacht Club.