By Ryan Bisesi
rbisesi@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY – Salisbury won the girls county golf championship Thursday at Corbin Hills on a picture-perfect afternoon
The Hornets steamrolled the competition with three scores in the 70s for a 224 total score. It was a course Salisbury wasn’t familiar with, but that mattered little in the end as it wound up with four all-county members.
Sophomore Isabella Rusher shot a 1-over 73 on her first round at the course to medal and earn County Player of the Year. The phenom, who was medalist at the 1A/2A state championship match last year, overcame a few early bogies and rode an eagle on No. 18 to the lowest score.
“I was really upset and I just took a few deep breaths,” Rusher said. “I calmed down and got my eagle. It was a successful day.”
Rusher reached the green on the Par 5 18th hole in two shots and sunk a curvy putt to give her momentum.
“I hit a really good drive down the middle,” Rusher said. “And then I hit a 9-iron onto the green and made a 6-foot putt. It was a hard breaker and I couldn’t believe I made it.”
Rusher finished with three birdies after starting with the first group on hole 4. She birdied 3, 6 and 11. She’s picked up pretty much where she left off after a stellar freshman year.
Grace Yatawara and was 3-over with a 75 and Madeline Hoskins, fresh off winning the Conference tennis singles championship, shot 76 for the Hornets.
“They’re starting to play as good as they can play,” Salisbury coach Dale Snyder said. “I got three girls in the 70s. This is great for the next couple weeks.”
Salisbury will be at the 1A/2A Central regional at Pilot Knob Park on Oct. 22 to tune up for the state championship match at Foxfire Golf Club in Pinehurst. The reigning 1A/2A state champs have a pivotal match Wednesday with Cannon and Grimsley coming to Country Club of Salisbury.
“The last few years Cannon’s been our nemesis,” Snyder said. “We really want to get them one time.”
Thursday, Yatawara, Hoskins and Brooke Smith were all-county performers for Salisbury.
“It’s really coming together,” Snyder said.
East Rowan’s Emily Cleveland shot 89 to lead the Mustangs and was all-county along with ER’s Kathrine Marcum. East finished second with a 293.
For West Rowan, Kelly Boley shot 96 to make all-county. West was third with 298.
Carson’s Adison Collins was the leading Cougar with a 100. Whitney Parks led the way for South Rowan.