Best nips Adams, retains crown
By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on April 4, 2012 1:48 PM
Defending champion Kyle Best saved his best for last.
The Southern Wayne standout delivered a birdie on the first playoff hole and won the 2012 Wayne County Golf Championship individual title on Tuesday afternoon at Goldsboro Municipal Golf Club.
Best and Rosewood sophomore Nick Adams each finished with an 18-hole total of 75 and found themselves in a playoff for medalist honors. Both players hit quality drives off the tee box at No. 9 and the pair hit nearly identical second shots to the back left corner of the green.
Adams putted first and left the ball 10 feet short of the hole. Best hit a similar putt and found himself about a foot inside of Adams on approximately the same line. Adams missed his birdie attempt and watched as Best sank his try.
"I had about the same putt earlier in the day on that green so I knew what it was going to do," Best said. "I didn't play much break and hit it firm enough to keep it on line."
Adams did not go home empty handed, however, as Rosewood emerged the team champion with a four-player score of 323. Charles B. Aycock finished second with a 337. Southern Wayne (349), Eastern Wayne (366), Goldsboro (377) and Spring Creek (422) rounded out the field.
Blake Weaver fired a 76 for the Eagles. Bret Robinson finished with an 80 and Austin Kriger carded a 92 to complete the Eagles team total.
"I was pleased with my guys and obviously winning the team championship is something to be proud of," Rosewood head coach Daniel Baynes said. "Today was what high school golf is all about."
Dylan Mitchell's round of 82 paced the Golden Falcons. Jordan Salter (83), Battle Burnette (85) and Mathew Ivey (87) also scored well for Charles B. Aycock.
Best's 75 led Southern Wayne. Jonathon Langston (90), Jonathan Barrow (92) and Julian Mitchell (92) completed the Saints' tally.
Caleb Jones paced Eastern Wayne with a round of 76. Hidematsu Sueki (81), Ty Schmeltzer (98) and Andrew Lockerby (111) carded scores for the Warriors.
Matt Hall and Jeff Jones each finished with a score of 93 for Goldsboro. Tyler Ludlum emerged the top performer from Spring Creek with a 100.