Rosewood, Aycock have 36 holes left to play in respective seasons

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 29, 2011 11:05 PM

• Print
• Email

By RUDY COGGINS

News-Argus Sports Editor

A second-year team and a well-established program will represent Wayne County when the 2011 N.C. High School Athletic Association women's golf championships begin Monday morning in southeastern North Carolina.

Rosewood qualified for its first-ever trip to the 1-A/2-A tournament after a fourth-place effort in the eastern regional contested at Bear Trail Golf Club in Jacksonville.

Senior Jennifer Liles carded a career-best 98 in the 18-hole event to help keep the Eagles' season alive. Teammates Taylor Gales and Taylor Brock recorded rounds of 116 and 121, respectively.

Liles finished in a three-way tie for 11th place overall. She overcame trouble and shot a 45 on the front nine, but fashioned a 53 on the back side.

"I felt she was getting a little tired and that may have been due to the stress she placed on herself to do well," said Rosewood head coach Shay Campbell. "While she was mentally tough, the stress appeared to take hold on her physically.

"Each of our players had a good mindset when going into the tournament and I was glad to see them relaxed. The physical demands of walking this course may have played a big part in scores, but that is something that our program will need to address for next year."

The 1-A/2-A will be contested Monday and Tueday at Longleaf Golf & Country Club.

Meanwhile, the Golden Falcons enter the state tournament with considerable momentum. They have the two-time defending eastern regional champion, Tara Simmons, and an determined bunch of players who want to earn just the fourth team state title in Aycock's athletics history.

Simmons carded a 5-over par 77 to claim the east regional championship contested at Birchwood Country Club in Nashville. The Golden Falcons easily ran away with the team crown as well.

Simmons ventured down to Foxfire Golf & Country Club to play a few holes on the West Course. Several greens and fairways are surrounded by water, something her teammates won't be too accustomed to when they tee off Monday.

The Golden Falcons are making their first team appearance in the state tournament since 2006 and fifth overall in school history. Aycock's best finish was 10th out of 16 teams in the 1-A/2-A/3-A tournament contested in 2005.

But with Simmons' calm demeanor and coach Roger Rhodes' encouragement, Aycock should fare well in the two-day, 36-hole event.