2016 WAYNE COUNTY GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS: CBA's Jones repeats as medalist

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on April 21, 2016 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Head propped in his hands, which rested on his knees, Rosewood senior Dylan Champion watched as players walked off the Goldsboro Municipal Golf Course and turned in their scorecards.

Champion fired a 77.

Would it be good enough to dethrone reigning individual champion Bryce Jones?

Almost.

Jones successfully defended his individual title in the 2016 Wayne County Golf Championships with a 4-over-par 76 on Wednesday afternoon. The Charles B. Aycock sophomore was the lone golfer to shoot even par (36) on the back nine.

"I played it kind of safe," Jones said. "I didn't hit a driver but three times because I just wanted to stay in the fairway and make pars. If birdies were going to happen, they were just going to happen.

"On the last stretch there, I got in trouble several times and I'm glad I pulled through with the shots and to win it (again)."

Jones and his Golden Falcon teammates also repeated as the team champion with a four-player total of 317. Mitchell Langston posted a 79, while St. Andrews University signee Blake Bartlett and Ty Daniels each recorded an 81.

Jake Flowers and Nick Wise each carded an 89.

Rosewood took second with a 324, followed by Eastern Wayne (338), Wayne Country Day (356), Goldsboro High (371) and Spring Creek (412).

"They played very well, really proud of the guys," said CBA head coach Dave Elmore, whose team experienced a midseason slide in and out of conference play. "The last three matches, we've kind of picked it up. Today was a good day. All year, those six guys -- Bryce, Mitchell, Blake, Nick, Ty and Jake -- have all helped at different points in the year.

"Some guys picked up other guys on some days and other days it was somebody else that carried the load."

Jones said the challenge in the breezy conditions was to keep the ball in the fairway and avoid the trees, which decreases the chance of scoring par on a hole. He felt either a 75 or 76 would put him in medalist contention.

So did Champion.

He dropped in birdie putts on Nos. 3 and 16, but also encountered some bogeys along the way.

"Honestly, I thought 76 would win and that was my goal for today," said Champion, who shot 1-over 37 on the front nine. "(Bryce) came in with a 76 and there wasn't much you could do about it. I was off and on ... chipped and putted real well. (I) pulled a lot of iron shots.

"Off the tee I was pretty good. I just didn't lose my focus and went through the round knowing that each hole could be a birdie hole."

Langston finished third overall with a 79. Eastern Wayne's Drew Grady shot an 80 and three golfers -- Bartlett, Daniels and Rosewood's Andrew Ingram -- shared fifth place with an 81.

Grady won the putting contest. Rosewood's Jeremy Mercer finished runner-up and EW's Zack Lancaster took third. Ingram claimed the closest-to-the-pin prize on No. 6. Bartlett had the longest drive off the first tee box.

Wayne Country Day's Kelly Lewis, the lone female in the 34-player field, shot a 95. Teammate Mitch Debowski led the Chargers with an 84.

Ryan Kimble paced Goldsboro with an 88. Jarret Raiford collected a 94 for Spring Creek.