Local golfers compete in NCHSAA golf championships

By Steve Roush
Published in Sports on November 5, 2006 2:01 AM

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BUIES CREEK -- Seven Wayne County golfers took part in the two-day, N.C. High School Athletic Association Classes 1-A/2-A/3-A women's golf championships this past week.

Charles B. Aycock senior Kelli Forbis ended up ninth overall and carded a 36-hole total of 83-87--170. Overall, Forbis and Golden Falcon teammate Brooke Newell -- also a senior -- turned in a 13th-place finish in the team competition.

Also participating in the event were Eastern Wayne's Jasmine Reeves (89-92--181), Erica Freeman (106-108--214) and Melissa Ricker (111-113--224), Spring Creek's Paula Weber (111-97--208) and Southern Wayne's Jordan Hill (110-103--213).

Eastern Wayne wound up 17th overall among the 21 competing teams.

Just a freshman, Reeves finished in the top 30 at state and ended up second in the Eastern Carolina Conference. Her low score for nine holes this year was a 39 and her 18-hole low was 85.

"She's broken pretty much all the freshman records here at Eastern Wayne," said coach Scott Waller. "By the time she's a senior, she could be the best to come out of Wayne County."

Sophomore Courtney Gunter Indian Trail Porter Ridge fired the only sub-par round of the second day and claimed medalist honors with 79-70--149. Gunter started the day in fourth place, six shots behind 2005 champion and first-round leader Cydney Clanton of Concord.

Gunter birdied the 16th, 17th and 18th holes on the way to the championship. Clanton ended up three strokes back, followed by Salisbury's Lauren Smith and Wilson Fike's Amy Otteson.

Salisbury orchestrated a come-from-behind effort in team competition and shaved 14 strokes of its first-day score. Salisbury repeated as state champion with a two-day total of 330, two strokes lower than first-day leader Fike.

"Considering they only take 78 from the entire state to play in this, it is quite an accomplishment for all our county girls," Waller said. "It's a great experience for them."