Golden Falcons, Simmons run away with 'unofficial' title
By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on October 14, 2009 1:46 PM
Charles B. Aycock finished what it started.
The Golden Falcons carded a three-player total of 282 and claimed the "unofficial" Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference women's golf championship Tuesday afternoon at Goldsboro Municipal Golf Club.
The six-team league has just three golf-playing schools, one less than necessary to earn recognition as an official conference by the N.C. High School Athletic Association. Players from all three teams -- Aycock, Eastern Wayne and Southern Wayne -- will advance to next week's NCHSAA 1-A/2-A/3-A eastern regional at GMGC.
Aycock hadn't won a league crown since 2006.
"It's a credit to these girls and their willingness to get better," said Golden Falcon head coach Roger Rhodes. "We have to play our best in the regional if we want to have a chance to play with the best teams in the east, but I think we are capable."
C.B. Aycock freshman Tara Simmons emerged the medalist on Tuesday with a 6-over par 78 and concluded regular-season play with 223 strokes. Eastern Wayne's Jasmine Reeves was second overall with an 81, and ended up 15 strokes behind Simmons for unofficial player-of-the-year honors.
Each is expected to do well in the regional.
Reeves is seeking to book her third trip to the state tournament.
"Jasmine played well today, especially considering the girls were playing from the white tees," said Eastern Wayne head coach Scott Waller. "She knows what she needs to do in order to get to states."
The Warriors' Emily Deal (346) and Marissa Williams (374) aided the squads second-place finish in the overall team standings with 1,125 total strokes. Eastern Wayne finished second on Tuesday with a 315 total.
Southern Wayne rounded out the team scoring with 1,148 strokes. Darian Edwards led the Saints with a 289 season total. Mallory Gray (115) and Savanah Morgan (115) completed the Saints' score.
The Saints fired a three-player total of 332 on Tuesday.