PREP GOLF: Challenging courses bite golfers

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on May 9, 2017 10:00 AM

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PINEHURST -- Demanding.

Such were the conditions faced by Wayne County golfers Cameron Klages and Ryan Kimble on Monday, as both waded into 36-hole medal play water at the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1-A and 2-A championships in famed Pinehurst.

Klages, an individual qualifier from Rosewood High, began play at historic Whispering Pines, and along with most of the field, encountered difficulty from the outset.

The junior carded nines of 44-41 en route to an opening-round score of 85. His round included four double-bogeys and a lone birdie, secured on the 507-yard, par-5 15th hole.

Klages was also assessed a two-shot penalty for failing to replace his ball marker in its original position after moving it to avoid being in the line of a fellow competitor.

"Cameron handled it with great poise," Eagles' head coach Rick Grantham said of the ruling. "(And) the course played at (an average of) 90 with 58 birdies and 147 others -- so I'd say it was a challenge for everyone."

Individual scoring was paced by Nick Smith of Pine Lake Prep, who finished the day with a 73. Lincoln Charter leads the team affair by 12 shots after firing a team score of 305.

At nearby Beacon Ridge, Goldsboro's Kimble found scoring conditions equally difficult.

The sophomore opened his round with consecutive triple-bogeys, turned the outward half in 10-over par and finished the day with a round of 96.

Like Klages, his effort included a singular highlight -- a birdie at the 475-yard, par-5 seventh hole.

In total, just 5 players managed to break 80 at the 6,454-yard, par 72 layout -- led by defending state titlist Justin Emmons of Providence Grove with a 73.

Wilkes Central, also defending its 2016 crown, registered a round of 311 to pace the team portion.

Both Wayne County golfers will attempt to close out their state tourney appearances in better form today. Klages began his final round at 10:06 a.m., while Kimble started at 8:40 a.m.