Eastern Wayne captures ECC tourney title

By Rob Craig
Published in Sports on October 19, 2007 1:48 PM

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WILSON -- For nearly 10 hours a day this past summer, Jasmine Reeves was somewhere playing golf.

Following a dominating freshmen season where she rewrote the record books at Eastern Wayne, Reeves had three simple goals for the upcoming season. Win the Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference tournament, break 80 and in general, play better than last season.

In one day, Reeves accomplished all of those goals.

Reeves became the first sophomore in Eastern Wayne girl's golf history to score under 80, as she shot an 18-hole round of 79 to capture her first-ever ECC title.

"That is indescribable," said Reeves, who received ECC player of the year accolades. "To actually come here and win it, in my sophomore year, feels really good."

Reeves and her Warrior teammates had plenty to be excited about as they also claimed the ECC team title by defeating runner-up Southern Wayne 266-281 at rainy Willow Springs Country Club. Finishing third was Wilson Hunt (319) and in fourth was Wilson Beddingfield (359). Charles B. Aycock did not record a team score with Lauren Larison and Krista Smith carding a 114 and 131, respectively.

The ECC tournament championship brought to a close a dominant season for Eastern Wayne. The Warriors finished a perfect 15-0 and had the top three players in the ECC -- Jasmine Reeves, Paula Webber and Erica Freeman.

"They've worked hard all year," said coach Scott Waller. "They had a goal -- win the conference."

Freeman rebounded after shooting a 51 on the front nine to record a 41 on the back to finish with a 92.

"My putting wasn't too good, but my drives and my irons were great," said Freeman. "It feels good (to win the ECC title) because we weren't even close last year."

Paula Webber added a 95 to contribute to the Warriors' point total.

Southern Wayne gave Eastern Wayne a scare as Taylor Scott, Alyssa Bradshaw and Jordan Hill all put in strong efforts.

Bradshaw finished with a 94 and Hill recorded a 96, but it was Scott who turned in one of her best rounds of the year with a 91. Scott did so despite being aggravated by the occasional rain shower.

"It messed me a up a few times, but it was alright," said Scott. "It made the greens a lot slower. But I am very happy (with my performance)."

Southern Wayne coach Michael Wiggs was thrilled as well with Scott's performance.

"Taylor played probably her best round of the whole year and it was in the conference tournament," he said. "That put her right in the thick of things for all-conference. She had her best round when it counted."

The afternoon though, belonged to Reeves. The super sophomore birdied holes four and 10 at a course, that in the past, has frustrated her.

"Jasmine really doesn't care for this course much, but she hung in there and came through," said Waller. "She's broken all the records we've had so far for a sophomore. I knew all of this was just a matter of time."

Eastern Wayne and Southern Wayne will next both take its teams to the regional play beginning on Oct. 22 at Goldsboro Municipal Golf Course.

"They all made it to regionals so we hope to do well there and make it to states," said Waller. "All five can make it. If they go out there and shoot what they're capable of they can do it."

Notes: The All-Eastern Carolina Conference team -- Paula Webber and Erica Freeman from Eastern Wayne; Alyssa Bradshaw, Jordan Hill, Taylor Reaves and Taylor Scott from Southern Wayne; Kristen Cuddington, Beddingfield; and Sarah Boswell and Sarah Vick from Wilson Hunt.