Gators advance at 1-A golf regional

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on May 4, 2010 1:47 PM

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WALLACE -- Players from three teams stood and watched as Daniel Richter's score was posted at the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A Mideast men's golf regional at River Landing Country Club on Monday afternoon.

With a pair of berths in the state championship on the line and only a few strokes separating the squads, there was plenty of anxious anticipation.

Richter's round of 92 was good enough to vault Spring Creek past Midway and Rosewood for second place in the team standings with a four-player total of 360. It also ensured the Gators' second trip to the state tournament for just the second time in program history.

The Eagles were the odd team out with a 366 team total.

"It's wild that the whole season essentially comes down to one day," said Spring Creek head coach Ryan Fields. "Rosewood beat us in five of the six conference matches, but today we came out with the better score."

The N.C. School of Science and Math finished as the top team with a 343 total. Jonathan Lara anchored the victors with a medalist round of 74.

Kenneth Freeman paced the Gators with an 86. Jordan Edwards (87), Richter (92) and Paul Sullivan (95) completed the Spring Creek total.

"I came out yesterday and played a practice round here, and shot an 80 so I was pretty confident," said Freeman. "They moved some of the pins around this morning and put them in some tougher spots, and it made a real difference."

Brett Robinson led the Eagles with a round of 88. Will Caughron carded a 90 and Tyler Dean added a 92. Wesley Hobleman rounded the Rosewood team score with a 96.

Goldsboro finished its first-ever regional appearance with a 499 team total. Obadiah Speight paced the Cougars with a solid 89.

"I think my guys learned a lot today," said Goldsboro head coach Al Sutherland. "We realized that just because we made the regional that we still have a lot of work to do. Courses at this level can really eat your lunch if you aren't fully prepared."

Ryne Woodard, Princeton's lone entrant, shot a round of 95.

The top three individual scores not on one of the top three teams also advanced to the state championship next week at Longleaf Country Club in Pinehurst. Colby Hardison (79) from Ayden-Grifton and Heide Trask teammates Devin Laverdure (80) and Eli Sanchez (82) each earned an individual bid.