Staff report
Salisbury’s boys golf team battled the elements along with other teams Monday at Longleaf Golf and Country Club.
Defending a state title often lends to shrugging off such factors and the Hornets did as such.
Salsisbury shot 290 for the day and is 13 shots up on the competition. North Lincoln, who finished second to Salisbury last year, is 13 shots back with 18 holes to play.
For most of the day it was a picturesque setting in Southern Pines for the state 2A championship, but thunder and lighting prompted a two-hour weather delay.
“I’m proud of our guys for keeping focus after the delay,” Salisbury coach Dale Snyder said.
Senior Alex Nianouris shot a 70 to tie for the lead with North Surry’s Taylor Coalson, last year’s individual champion. Nianouris was 3-under coming onto the back nine and finished tied for the lead despite double-bogeying Hole 17. Nianouris’ tee shot on 17 was out of bounds but otherwise, the Davidson signee flourished, finishing with four birdies.
“Alex was dialed in,” Snyder said. “He had a great round.”
Clark Alcorn and Eric Edwards checked in with 73s to tie for sixth. Alex Lee shot 74 to qualify as the final recorded score. The top four scores for each team count in the team score.
Troy Beaver, The CCC Player of the Year, shot 76 along with Joseph Rusher to tie for 16th.
Nianouris was complete with his round by the time the storms rolled in about 1:30 p.m. Action was postponed for about two hours as the other Hornets played their final holes.
“Troy had to wait two hours to finish his putting on the last hole,” Snyder said. “It was the longest three-putt in history.”
Newton-Conover (310) and Shelby (320) are third and fourth.
Salisbury shot a 580 last year and it can duplicate that with another 290 today. The Hornets bested their first round from last year’s 293. The forecast calls for a 30 percent chance of rain. Salisbury can accomplish the rare feat of winning girls and boys championships in the same school year.
“As far as we’re concered, it’s 0-0,” Snyder said. “We have to win tomorrow’s match. We can’t sit back and expect it to come to us.”
Beaver will tee off at 9:30 this morning and Nianouris at 10:10 on Hole 1. Lee (9:40), Edwards (9:50), and Alcorn (10) have early starts as well.