Rosewood's Pipkin shoots season low on GMGC links

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on September 10, 2013 1:47 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Alana Pipkin steadied her feet, took one last look at the long distance between her and the pin, and lightly struck the ball with her putter.

Pipkin expected the ball to either stop short or roll wide of the cup.

It kept rolling instead.

And rolling.

Then the ball curled toward the cup.

Pipkin stared in disbelief as the lengthy putt -- at least 40 feet -- dropped into the hole, which allowed her to save par after hitting into the trees from the fairway. Pipkin finished with a season-low 50 and helped Rosewood claim a two-team, eight-player match contested at Goldsboro Municipal Golf Course on Monday afternoon.

Lindsey Burton paced the Eagles with a 43 -- one stroke behind medalist Makenna Hammer of Neuse Charter. Taylor Gales rounded out Rosewood's three-player score of 141. Teammate Madison Overby also participated.

Rachel Mellon, who played alongside Pipkin, led Princeton's runner-up effort with a 57. Teammates Peyton Overbee and Logan Boykin rounded out the Bulldogs' 9-hole team score of 177 with rounds 59 and 61, respectively.

"I told the girls I didn't care what the team score was, I just wanted them to have fun and enjoy themselves while they're out here," Princeton head coach Sherwood Reardon said.

Pipkin's second shot from the fairway on No. 3 landed in the trees beside the fence. The ball rested against a fence post and each time the club struck the post on Pipkin's backswing.

Campbell instructed her to take a one-stroke penalty as Pipkin placed the ball a club length from the fence post. Her shot deflected off of a tree and dropped on the backside of the green, leaving her with a long, difficult putt. After a shot by Mellon, Pipkin lined up the ball and took a couple of small practice strokes.

Pipkin didn't move after she struck the ball, which lightly bounced as it rolled along the manicured green. When it dropped into the cup, Pipkin exclaimed "oh my gosh!"

"I really thought it was going to stop rolling," a shocked Pipkin said.

Scoring officials awarded Pipkin par on the 260-yard hole due to the unplayable lie created by the fence post. Regardless of the outcome, the Eagles' lone senior brimmed with confidence the rest of the afternoon and shaved five strokes off her previous score of 55 she recorded last Thursday in a multi-team at Reedy Creek Golf Club.

The Eagles shot six strokes lower as a team after firing a 147 at RCGC.

"The girls come to practice and work hard and they have fun together," Campbell said. "When they are able to see the work pay off, I think it makes practice a little more bearable. Alana's expression after making great putt for par was a perfect example (that) putting was an area she needed to get better at (doing).

"The girls are playing some good golf right now. It is still early in the season and both Coach Jerry Burton and I are pleased with the players' progress.