Staff report
Salisburyís girls golf team won the 1A-2A Central Regional by 15 shots on Monday and is a prime contender for the programís first state title since 2006.
Salisbury shot 248. Runner-up East Surry shot 263.
East Davidsonís Katie Nance shot 74 for medalist honors.
Freshman Isabella Rusher led the Hornetsí onslaught, firing a sizzling 76 at China Groveís Warrior Golf Club.
ěForty on the front and even on the back,î SHS coach Dale Snyder said. ěShe was great today.î
Madeline Hoskins, who is involved in multiple state championship quests by the Hornets, carded an 85.
ěShe finished at about 1, but I had to keep her around for a while in case there was a playoff,î Snyder said. ěShe was pretty relieved when I told her she could go on to tennis practice.î
Hoskinsí double-duty schedule the remainder of the week is challenging.
Sheíll play for the Hornets in the 2A dual team tennis playoffs vs. Brevard today. She has golf practice on Wednesday. On Thursday through Saturday, sheíll be involved in the 2A individual tennis state championships as a singles qualifier.
On Sunday, sheíll put on her golf shoes again for a practice round at Longleaf in Southern Pines. The Hornets will pursue a state title there on Oct. 31-Nov. 1.
ěShe played pretty fantastic golf today for someone whoís back and forth with two sports,î Snyder said. ěSheís got something every day this week. It makes me tired just to look at her.î
Lily Yatawara shot 87 and was the Hornetsí third scorer.
Brooke Smith shot 93 and was a state qualifier.
ěVery proud of Brooke,î Snyder said. ěSheís come such a long way. She picked up the game in high school, and now here she is qualifying for state.î
The Hornetsí play on Monday left Snyder feeling optimistic about next week.
ěWe had a very good tournament, played well and won,î he said. ěLily didnít have her best round today, but we know what sheís capable of shooting. If we can put it all together next week, weíve got a good chance to win it.î
3A West Henderson won 1A-2A-3A titles the last two seasons, but the 3A teams have their own tournament this time.