Kayla Sciupider Claims Rex Hospital Jr. Title

Raleigh, NC May 16, 2010 - Wakefield Plantation - The Annual Rex Hospital Open also sends out invitations to the some of the best junior girls in the state.

After round one on Saturday Kayla Sciupider, Kristi Ingram. Tara Simmons and Michelle Pilo found themselves one stroke behind the leader Casey Ward. With this bunch at the top meant that it would be left to whoever wanted it the most on day two.

Allyson Markiewicz came out firing on day two carding the best round of the two days with a 75 on day two but fell short of a win by one stroke.

Kayla Sciupider with the 2nd best round of the two days of a 76 beat back Markiewicz's run at her to win the girls division of the Rex Hospital Open Junior Invitational  Click here for the full leaderboard.....

L-R Bob Scott - Kayla Sciupider

N. Lincoln retains 2A State Title

The hottest team in the sate in regards to scoring low rounds all season ran into a wall at Keith Hills. Salisbury had only one thing on their mind when they cranked up the 2010 season – win the state 2A title!  

The week to week scoring that Salisbury posted would make anyone believe that they would come into Keith Hills and walk of with the gold. Just not to be. On day one two of their leading year long best scorers posted above 80 rounds helping to take away any cushion that shooting their stroke average can create.

Unable to duplicate their season long low scoring escapades Salisbury took an 7 stroke lead into day two. As day two began to unfold Roy Dixon was the only player with any consistence in scoring but it alone was not enough. Salisbury’s 2 and 3 was not able to improve on their first day rounds thus causing an 8 stroke increase over the first day team totals and the loss of their season long mantra.

Salisbury came to the 2A title match having to face two 2009 state champions. One was the first day

second place team and the 2009 1A state champs Topsail. Topsail’s seven stroke deficit behind Salisbury one day one could not be improved upon on day two leaving them in third place behind Salisbury.

The other 2009 champion that Salisbury had to face was the reigning 2A champions North Lincoln. North Lincoln finished the season with a team stroke average of 300.

On day one N. Lincoln carded a round of 10 strokes higher than their season stroke average leaving them in third place behind Topsail and Salisbury requiring some overnight soul searching as to whether they wanted to repeat as the 2010 state 2A champions.  

N. Lincoln must have decided they like the title of 2A champions and they came out on day two to win. Led by Miller Capps, their season long scoring leader cut the path towards their victory for the rest of his team to follow and follow they did.

Zach Lawing improved over his first day round by two strokes as did Sam Goodnight who brought home an 8 stroke improvement

over his first day round. Capps wingman all season had been Russ Piercy. In the true spirit of wingmen Piercy came through not only for Capps but for his team with a two day total of 155.  

This cohesive effort rewarded N. Lincoln with the right to carry around for the next 12 months the title of 2010 state 2A champions. The tournament Medalist honors was won by Salisbury’s Roy Dixon with a two day total of 145. Click here for all the scores...

Newland, NC - May14, 2010 - We had noticed a player from Avery County High School scoring well enough to win a spot at the 2010 1A State Championship so we had asked his Coach, Boe Barinowski to send us some information on Chase Watson and this is what

Coach Barinowski had to say, "Despite being a senior, Chase Watson is a young golfer who has not yet finished growing physically.  He's grown 8 inches in the last year and his coordination/raw athleticism has continued to catch up to his recent growth spurt.  That to say, Chase's best golf is still several years

years. This year he represented the school at the state tournament and struggled to focus on the golf to be played.  He posted the lowest 9 hole score on the back 9 (by far the toughest side of the course) during the 1st round of play but couldn't put 18 holes together.

He made some awesome golf shots which weren't reflected in his scores.  More than any other single attribute, Chase is disciplined about practice.  He was the only player that consistently showed up before school to work on his putting in the indoor practice facility here at Avery Co HS.  He's also a natural leader that strives to help everyone on the team play to their potential regardless of how he's playing as an individual."

Editor's note: If you know of a young golfer going off to college next fall and will be playing golf let us hear about it.

Denver, NC - May 13, 2010 - We contacted Coach Lackey for a his thoughts on his team's win at the state. Here is what he had to say, "This years win was tremendous.  We didn't play well on the first day and were in a tremendous hole being 8 shots down to Salisbury and 1 shot down to Topsail. 

To battle back from that deficit and win is quite an accomplishment.  Salisbury made some mistakes along the way on Tuesday and that helped us in the comeback.  I would like to extend my sincerest congratulations
to Roy Dixon of Salisbury on being the State 2A Individual Champion. 

"I will miss the seniors from this North Lincoln team tremendously.  Zach Lawing, Russ Piercy, and Jacob Clarke have meant so much to this program.  It will be a tremendous change not to see them at practice next year.  They have certainly done their part to put our program on     Coach Mark Lackey the map.  Of course having Miller Capps, Sam Goodnight, and Gray Brotherton certainly doesn't hurt going in to next year."

A Star is Rising

Buies Creek, NC May 12, 2010 - Keith Hills Golf Club - At the 2A State Playoffs a key to the ascendancy of Maiden High this past season in winning its conference was confirmed. Throughout the season Thomas Lilly and Josh Morgan traded winning the Medalist honors at each weeks events.

Though Maiden played well in their conference they were no match for N. Lincoln however, Lilly played well enough to be awarded a trip to the stat playoffs representing Maiden as an individual contestant.

Lilly and his coach, Robbie Abernathy had come down early Sunday for his practice round. Lilly's parents, Tom and Beth drove down later in time to join them for dinner. It was at dinner that Thomas told his dad that, "I like this course. I think I can do pretty well on it tomorrow." And, he did.

On day one he posted a one over par 73 one behind first day Medalist Roy Dixon of Salisbury. On day two Thomas shot a 74 giving him a two day total of 147 allowing him to finish second over all behind Roy Dixon who won the tournament Medalist honors with a two day score of 145

Denver, NC May 3, 2010 - Verdict Ridge CC - The North Lincoln Knights are headed back to defend their 2A State Championship title.

Todays tournament featured 86 golfers from 23 different schools.  The tournament was played at Verdict Ridge Country Club in Denver NC.  The teams played most of the day in a steady rain. 

The individual championship was decided in a 3 hole playoff between North Lincoln's Zach Lawing and Maiden's Thomas Lilly. 

Lawing won the playoff with an 18 foot birdie putt on the 3rd hole of the sudden death playoff.  Lawing said after the playoff that when the putt went in to win the championship was the greatest feeling individually he has ever had in golf.  "The team state championship last year was the greatest feeling I've ever had for a team but today was the best I've every

North Lincoln, the 2009 state 2A champions will return to defend their championship along with Shelby HS, and North Henderson.
 
 "Today was the most challenging day for all the players as I have seen in a long time.  The rain and wind was very hard at times and I'm sure not one player had any dry clothes during the round.  I am very proud of all the players in the tournament for playing so hard and staying focused on a day like this.  I want to congratulate our team (North Lincoln) on the regional championship and also to Zach Lawing (North Lincoln) on his individual championship.  I would like to thank Verdict Ridge CC for their tremendous help with the regional tournament and to all the volunteers who gave their time and efforts to the 86 players in the tournament today.  With out their

Regional Individual Champion --- Zach Lawing, North Lincoln HS.
Regional Individual Runner-up --- Thom        as Lilly, Maiden HS.
 
 
State Individual Qualifier ---  Thomas Lilly, Maiden, HS.    72
State Individual Qualifier --- Quinten Henricks, Bandys HS   73
State Individual Qualifier --- Jeremy Buskirk, Bunker Hill HS 73
 
Regional Team Champion --- North Lincoln HS   306
Regional Team Runner-up --- Shelby HS  321
Regional Team Third Place --- North Henderson HS  324
The 2A State Championship tournament will be held next Monday, May 10 and Tuesday, May 11 at Keith Hills Golf and CC in Bouis Creek, NC.

Forestview Claims West 3A by one stroke!
Alex Simmons wins Medalist Honors

Shelby, NC May 3, 2010 - Riverbend Golf Club - The Forestview Jaguars went to Riverbend with a stroke average of 296 for the season led by James Chapman with a stroke average of just over 70. With that much power at their disposal Forestview was expected to romp but instead they ran into a tornado, a Red Tornado.

The Hickory Red Tornados are coming off a successful state championship run in 2009 and was really excited about the prospect for 2010. They have a lot of tournament experience returning for 2010. However, through the first five matches of the season they lost every other match. Their winning stroke average at last year’s state was 294. This season they finished with a 311. With those kinds of number the regional did not look promising until you look at the numbers. 

Near the end of this season two key players for Hickory were slowly

turning their games around. One is Matthew Turner, who had been posting scores at the front of the season into the mid eighties, but during his last two matches carded scores in the mid seventies and even winning Medalist honors at his last seasonal match. The other was Win Balatow. 

Balatow was key in last years State Championship but was off to a horrible start this season amassing a stroke average of 81.00. He like Turner began to turn his game around the several matches of this season and it has culminated in his lowest score of the 2010 season in this regional. Though Hickory lost the regional crown by one they look to be peaking at the right time and will be a force in defending their 3A crown.

Mr. Cool Hand Luke otherwise known as JT Poston comes through again. This kid has the perfect gofers demeanor. He would probably be a

good poker player as well. All season long Poston is playing average golf, which is average by his capabilities and then bang! When it is needed he comes through. Going up against Forestview’s James Chapman and in spite of bad weather Poston shoots a 69 to lead his Red Tornado team to second in the regionals.Fred T. Foard was the burr under Hickory’s saddle all season. They took the wind out of the Red Tornado’s twice this season which is more than any team has done is several seasons. Led by Connor Stinson, the Tigers from Foard brought a lot of respect to their golfing tradition at Foard. Had it not been for Turner and Balatow coupled with Poston’s 69 then it would have been Foard in second.  

Foard has the potential to make the big move. They were the only team in the Northwestern 3A conference to go under 300 this season. So look for some surprises at the state. 

Though Poston carded a 69 he was not the Medalist. The Medalist was Alex Simmons from Hibriten shooting a 65.

Click here for all the scores.....

Hickory Closes out the season on high note!

Lenoir, NC April 29, 2010 – Cedar Rock County Club – The Northwestern 3A/4A conference finally completed their schedule for this very messy weather wise season. For this last match the conference played the back tees at Cedar Rock that measure 7153 yards. The front side at Cedar Rock from the back tee is extremely tough. You can tell by the scores that most of the field had a tough time with that yardage. 

However, one player did not and he was not playing on his home course. Matthew Turner from Hickory High won his first ever Medalist honor with an excellent round of 72 from where he had to play. This is the second match in succession that Turner has shot well under his season stroke average of 80.40. Turner carded a 74 in his last match. This game improvement of Turner’s could not come at a better time for Hickory.  

Only five players were able to bring in a score under 80 of which three of them were Hickory players meaning that Hickory won this last event. This back to back win for

Hickory allowed them to move 20 strokes ahead of Fred T. Foard. Hickory’s round of 315 was only three strokes better that 4A Alexander Central but in golf it only takes one stroke to seal the deal. Zack Burkett from Alexander Central was one of the five players to score under 80 at Cedar Rock. Burkett has been battling JT Poston all season for the top spot on the leaderboard. Burkett came within three strokes of over taking Poston.  

Alexander Central had all four of their scorers in the top ten while Hickory had only three. On Monday, May 3^rd the 3A West Region will be played at River Bend in Shelby. Alexander Central will not play till Tuesday, May 4^th.  Click here for all of the up to date scores......

Lincolnton, NC April 27, 2010 - Lincoln Country Club - Southern Piedmont 1A/2A Conference warped up their season with N. Lincoln and Highland Tech finishing one two in the standings for the conference. NLH took this last match with a very respectable 292. That is the kind of score that they will need to repeat as the 2A state champs.  

This season was a two horse race between NLH and Highland Tech. After seven matches NLH stood at five and two while Highland Tech finished two and five. Seventy strokes separated the NLH and Highland Tech which ended up in their team stroke averages.

NLH’s season ending stroke average was 300.14 verses Highland Techs 310.14. NLH won the statechampionship last year with a two round total of 600. Based on the scores coming in this season 300 will not make the grade.  

The Southern Piedmont conference Champs are the N. Lincoln Knights. The individual Champion is Greg Brunner from Highland Tech with a 71.43 stroke average. Coach Marty Hutchins of Highland Tech was named the conference Coach of the Year.

Click here for all of the up to date scores.....

Statesville, NC – April 26, 2010 – Fox Den Country Club – The Catawba Valley Conference completed it 2010 season at Fox Den Country Club and Maiden High captured not its first conference title in golf but since no one can remember then its a good thing.

The Maiden duo of Thomas Lilly and Josh Morgan led the charge by Maiden all season. Maiden was undefeated in all of its nine hole matches and surrendered only one of the eighteen hole matches to Newton-Conover by three strokes

Top Ten Finishes

Denver, NC April 22, 2010 – Westport Golf Course – The Southern Piedmont 2A Conference took its next to last match to Westport Golf Club and by the look of the scores they had trouble with the Bermuda greens at Westport.

Highland Tech was given the opportunity that they had been looking for at Westport. NLH was leading Highland Tech by 48 strokes going into this match. At Westport, 

NLH carded their highest score of the 2010 season, a 318. But Highland Tech could not close the deal.

Highland Tech shot their second highest score of the season with a 316 effectively closing out nay chance what so ever.

The Medalist for the event was Braydon Hawkins from Highland Tech, his first win of the season. Greg Bunner, Hawkins team mate came in second with a season high 75.  

Morganton, NC April 22, 2010 - Quaker Meadows Golf Club – First off, hats off to East Burke High School. This season they have only one player and yet they hosted a conference match.  

The conference match was played at Quaker Meadows Golf Club in Morganton, NC. The match turned out to be a pretty close one with S. Iredell pressing Maiden all the way but succumbed at the end by six strokes to Maiden.

Leading the charge for Maiden was Thomas Lilly with a round of 72 which was good enough for the

Medalist honors, his third win for this season. Between he and Josh Morgan of Maiden they have won all seven of the matches played this season.

The surprise play of the day came from West Caldwell’s Jordan Harris. Since the matches have gone to 18 holes Harris has not been very productive but at Quaker Meadows he was. Harris posted a 76, good enough for second place.  

Maiden, with this win, has sown up the CVAC 2A conference and will be heading to the 2A regional on May the 3^rd at Verdict Ridge with a lot of wind at

Stanley, NC – April 19, 2010 – Cowans Ford Country Club – The Southern Piedmont 1A/2A met at Cowans Ford CC for their third from last conference match of this season. With less than two weeks till the regionals North Lincoln High cemented their conference lead with their victory at Cowans Ford CC.

Highland Tech had a chance to displace NLH only if they won this match. Highland Tech lost the match

In the event at Cowans Ford NLH’s Miller Capps won his first Medalist honors of the season with a sub par round of 67 besting the conference leader Greg Bunner by four strokes. Both NLH and Tech controlled the top ten except for one spot that went to Drew Eaker from Cherryville. Click here for all the up to date scores....

A Glimpse at the Western 3A Regional

Shelby, NC April 21, 2010 – Riverbend Golf Club -
We were given a glimpse into the 3A Western Regional on Wednesday when Hickory and Forestview got together in a friendly match on the course that they will meet on to find out who’s the best in the West Region.

Based on the box scores of both teams over the course of this season the odds makers would have favored Forestview and they would have been correct. James Chapman from Forestview led the charge against Hickory with a very impressive 7 under round of 65.

His low scoring round encouraged his team mate to follow suit. Forestview’s number two and three both came home under par. Alex Taylor shot a 70 and Will Long shot a 71. Their number four, Taylor Dickson had the high

score of the day with a par round of 72 giving Forestview the victory with a very exciting round of 283. 

Hickory has been having trouble getting low this season. For the first time in almost too many years to recall they lost their County Championship. This time of the season a state championship thinking team needs to be scoring well below the 300 mark.  

If this glimpse at what will happen in the Western 3A regional Hickory may have to fight their way to the state through the South Mountain Athletic Conference entrants. They have been posting similar scores as Hickory’s.

Meet N. Lincoln Head Golf Coach Mark Lackey

 Denver, NC – April 20, 2010 – North Lincoln High School -  With the conference matches about to be over and the regionals just around the corner we wanted to speak with Coach Mark Lackey, head golf coach at North Lincoln High School. NLH is the current 2009 2A State Champs with a two day total of 600.

So far this season NLH has improved their team stroke average by two strokes at 298. Based on the scores that have been coming to us they will need to shoot that or lower. With that in mind we asked Coach Lackey to comment on his 2010 team. 

“This years N. Lincoln Golf Team is comprised of 5 seniors, 2 juniors, 2 sophomores, and 1 freshman. 

The team is currently 34 and 8 on the season and is led by the five returning members of last year’s state championship team.   Currently they are in first place in the Southern Piedmont conference. Seniors Zach Lawing and Russ Piercy are playing exceptionally well.  Piercy is currently in third place in the conference while Lawing is in fourth place.  The play and leadership of these two seniors is invaluable.  Another senior, Jacob Clarke has also added plenty of help to the lineup.   

Sophomore Miller Capps is in second place in the conference.  A transfer last season from Seneca South Carolina, Capps has been a tremendous asset to the team.  Also the play of Sophomore Gray

Brotherton who is currently sixth in the conference, has helped to bolster the teams scores throughout the season. Junior Sam Goodnight is the only player who did not participate in the state championship tournament last year.  His game has improved dramatically from last season and has been a great addition to the team this year.  Goodnight currently sits in ninth place in the conference standings.  

The Knights are a very confident team.  They will host the 2A West Regional golf tournament this year at Verdict Ridge Country Club, and hope to go on to defend their State Championship from 2009.” 

We also had a chance to catch up to Coach Lackey at the annual high school invitational sponsored by the TYGA and McConnell Golf. Check out his video interview.

Newton, NC - April 20, 2010 - Catawba Country Club - Maiden and Josh Morgan are back on their winning ways. Newton played host to the Catawba Valley Athletic 2A Conference at the Catawba Country Club one week after winning their first match of the season but could only muster a second place tie with S. Iredell.

Morgan with a score of 73 won his fourth Medalist honors of this season and Maiden notched their fifth win. 

There is a great two man act materializing at Maiden consisting of Morgan and Thomas Lilly. Out of six matches these two have managed to win all six Medalist honors -  a clean sweep.

Lilly has  taken over the conference lead since the conference started playing its 18 hole rounds instead of the 9 hole rounds where Morgan dominated.

Currently Maiden is holding a 16 stroke lead over Newton-Conover in the 18 hole match portion of this season. At the end of their 9 hole matches Maiden was leading the conference by 44 strokes over S. Iredell. Click here for all of the up to date scores.......

Hickory is sitting in a very precarious position in terms of winning the conference title. The

The Medalist for today was Frankie Wyatt from Hickory with a round of 73. this is Wyatt’s first tournament win. One stroke behind Wyatt was Noah Martin, Matthew Turner and Chase Harmon. 

The regionals are set for May 3^rd leaving only a little over a week for Fred T. Foard to make a move on Hickory. They have the guns to get the job done but could run afoul if Wyatt and Turner from Hickory can come close to scoring in the last couple of matches like they did at Boone Golf Club. Couple that with Poston and Harrill and Hickory might just come out on top.

Click here for all of the up to date scores..

Conover, NC – (April 15, 2010) Rock Barn Golf & Spa – The Catawba Valley Athletic 2A Conference opened played their firs 18 hole match at Rock Barn. There will be four 18 hole matches in all to finish the 2010 season before the regionals.

With three of its players in the top ten and one in the 11^th spot Newton-Conover notched their first victory of the season in their victory belt.

Led by Hayden Bandy with his first second place showing of this season on a score of 77 the Red Devils were able to secure their first victory with a round of 323, a three stroke margin over conference leaders Maiden. 

Maiden’s Thomas Lilly had the best round of the day with a 72 to take home the Medalist honors.

The Conference scoring leader Josh Morgan was back in the pack after

posting an 81 some five strokes higher than his current conference stroke average.  

South Iredell finished with two of its players in the top ten in the second and fifth positions. South Iredell placed third with eight strokes behind Newton-Conover. South Iredell is currently sitting in second place in the conference standings behind the conference leader Maiden.  Click here for all the scores....