The East Rowan girls golf team made school history on Thursday by winning its first tournament.

Coach Randy Bingham’s East girls not only won a six-team, nine-hole tourney at Statesville’s Lakewood Golf Club, but the Mustangs won by seven shots.

East had a 93 team score, based on the team’s best two individual totals out of four eligible golfers, while runner-up Statesville finished at 100. Lexington (105), West Iredell (106), South Iredell (113) and North Iredell (116) also entered.

East freshman Brittany Staton made a strong bid for individual honors, shooting a 45 to finish second in the field of 28 golfers. Sophomore Brianna Mundy was third with a 48.

“I think this is going to motivate our girls to know that they can compete,” said Bingham, who is in his first year as the team’s coach. The program started last year.

“They’ve been creeping closer and closer each match we’ve had.I think we’ve finished fifth, fourth and third consecutively. Now we’ve jumped to first,” exclaimed Bingham. “I’m hoping this will give them that little boost of confidence they need to stay there.”

Lexington’s Stacy Hilton, consistently the best prep player in the area, won with a 43, but only beat Staton by two strokes.

“Brittany had a triple bogey and a double bogey on two of the last four holes. She made a lot of pars. ... It was good to see Brianna coming around,” he added.

Beth Mitchell and Audrey Medley each shot 57, while Mary Craig Misenheimer had a 60 and and April Johnson a 62.

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STRONG SHOWING: Aimee Davis, now a member of the first Catawba College women’s team, was a big reason why East started its golf program for girls. She played four straight years on the East boys team.

Davis played in her second college tournament of the year last Monday and Tuesday at Broken Arrow Golf Links near Statesville and finished 10th.

Davis shot a 94 on the difficult layout in the first round, then rebounded with an 87 to finish at 181. Teammate Tina Robinson of East Dummerston, Vt., had rounds of 95 and 99 for a 194.

Catawba will compete in another fall tournament at Deerbrook in Shelby later this month.

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PRO-AM: Salisbury native Jeff Biggers of Oak Valley in Advance and Bob Timm of Carolina Golf Mart were among the leaders in the Kannapolis Country Club’s annual pro-am held Wednesday.

Biggers shot a 2-under-par 70 to take sixth place and win $200. Timm tied for ninth with a 72 and won $96.

Roger O’Connell was the low pro with a 67, winning $475, while Mike Taylor and Adam Robinson tied for second with 68s, winning $362 each.

The first-place team was made up of pro Pat Whisnant and amateurs Scott Salzer, Bob Boswell and Rusty Bostian. Whisnant won $285, while the amateurs won $285 each in gift certificates.

David Ross teamed up with Steve Mervin, Dale Arnette and Mike Graham for to tie for second with J.J. Fashimpaur, Charlie Hepler, Phil Hubbard and Craig Argo at 129. Each pro won $217 and each amateur $217 in gift certificates.

Kannapolis pro Alan Cress teamed up with Jack Casey, Stan Shirley and Gary Hancock for seventh place at 133, winning $70.

Kent Chamberlain and Cecil Kaylor were low amateurs with scores of 69 and 70, respectively. They won $100 and $50 in prizes, respectively.

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HIGH FINISH: Steven Harvey of Salisbury took second place in the recent Mello Yellow Junior Golf Tournament at Caswell Pines in Yanceyville, but won the 16-17 age group.

Rodney Thomas of Lexington was the overall winner with a 71 and took first in the 14-15 division.

Harvey, a Salisbury High senior, shot an even par 72 to lead his age group.

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ROTARY EVENT: The first China Grove Rotary Golf Tournament will be held at 1 p.m. Oct. 28 at the new Warrior Golf Club.

The tourney will benefit the club’s high school scholarship fund and the East Carolina Flood Relief Fund.

The entry fee of $65 per person includes lunch and dinner, plus green and cart fees. Part of the fee ($28) is tax-deductible.

One of the features will be a $10,000 hole-in-one contest.

The tournament is limited to the first 120 players, and the entry deadline is Oct. 15.

For more information, contact Greg Crawford (875-2435).

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AIDS TOURNEY: The fourth annual Matt Speight Memorial Golf Tournament has been scheduled Saturday, Oct. 23 at Corbin Hills Golf Club. An 8:30 a.m. shotgun start is planned.

The entry fee for the captain’s-choice tourney is $50 per person or $200 per four-person team.

The fee also includes breakfast and lunch following play.

Golfers will have the opportunity to win a new car on a selected par-3 hole.

All proceeds will go to the Rowan County AIDS Task Force Education Fund.

For more information, contact Jean Poplin at 279-7385.

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UPCOMING EVENTS: Tournaments coming up next week include the 10th annual Salisbury-Rowan Home Builders Association Tournament at Corbin Hills on Thursday; the second annual Scott SmithMemorial Golf Tournament at Crescent Golf Club on Saturday; and the Knox Middle School tourney at Crescent on Sunday. All are captain’s-choice events.

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NIGHT FLIGHT: Rolling Hills Golf Club will hold a night golf tourney, starting at 5 p.m., next Saturday.

The captain’s-choice event, which has an entry fee of $40, will include a $500 cash prize for a hole in one on No. 12 along with special contests. A barbecue meal is included.

For more information, call Rolling Hills at 633-8125.

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HOLE IN ONE: Jimmie Porter made a hole in one in the rain last Monday at Foxwood Golf Club. He used a 4-iron to ace the par-3, 189-yard No. 9 hole.

Porter was playing with Donnie Webster.

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LADIES TOURNEY: Mary Seaford took low gross, and Marjorie Karabatsos won low net during the Corbin Hills ladies tourney last week.

Finishing second were Ruth Bowles (gross) and Marie Pugh(net). Jean Wray won low putts.

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SENIOR TOUR: Local seniors interested in playing competitive golf can still play in five events on the Carolina Blonde Amateur Golf Tour.

The tour, which started last month, is for golfers age 50 and older. Tour membership costs $50 and includes tour merchandise and a sponsor’s gift. The entry fee for each tourney is $50, which includes green and cart fees plus range balls.

The next scheduled event is Wednesday at Fox Den near Troutman.

For more information, contact Dennis McCormac at 365-0563.

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