Prep Girls Golf: East qualifies 2, Carson 1 for state

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Staff report

SUMMERFIELD — Tough conditions and a hilly course greeted local golfers at Monday’s 3A Central Regional at Greensboro National Golf Club.

The best three scores count for a team score. The top three teams — defending state champ Rockingham County (223), Northern Guilford (248) and Lee County (275) — advanced to the state tournament that will be held at Foxfire Resort and Golf Club on Oct. 23-24.

Rockingham’s Olivia John fired a 68 for the regional individual title.

The top 17 individuals not on one of the three qualifying teams make it to the state tournament as individuals. East Rowan’s Camryn Corriher (93) and Carmen Fraley (96) and Carson’s Sophia Brown (94) were among the individuals who qualified.

There were some scoring issues at the regional, and a number of scores posted as official results on Monday evening were inaccurate. East’s team score was listed at 305, but the Mustangs actually shot 289 and finished sixth. The third counting score for the Mustangs was provided by Hailey Fesperman, who shot 100. Grace Howell shot 104, while Megan Graham carded a 111.

Carson’s posted score was 322, but the numbers actually added up to 318 for Brown, Amber Goodman (111) and Kaiya Addison (113).

A.L. Brown’s posted score of 340 appears accurate. Individual scores listed were Maggie May (103), Ashlea Rose (112) and Jordan Hardeman (125).

East’s golfers started on the back nine.

“The back side is a lot of tougher, but if you can get through it OK, it figures to get a lot easier for you on the front side,” East coach Rhett Teems said. “All our girls hung in there pretty well on the back side, but most of them didn’t do as well on the front as we’d hoped. The wind had picked up a lot by then, and it became a factor. I’m not saying the weather was awful, just that it wasn’t ideal. The course was wet and the ball wasn’t carrying. Several of our girls (notably Fraley) are normally long off the tee, and some of that length was nullified. On a lot of holes here, you’re driving uphill, so if you’re short, it becomes a very tough hole.”

Corriher was the one who got better as the day went on. She made the turn in 50, but shot 43 for her last nine holes.

Fesperman also made the turn in 50.

“We had high hopes that she was going to qualify because she’s been very close every year,” Teems said. “She gave it all she had, but it just didn’t work out for her today.”

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Cox Mill shot 261 and won the 3A West Regional. Marvin Ridge and Hickory were the other state qualifiers.

In the 4A West Regional, Davie County’s Brookelynn Sornig shot 93 and was an individual qualifier. Reagan shot 237 to win the regional title.

Today’s 1A/2A Central Regional will include South Rowan’s Ellyse Scarborough and five Gray Stone golfers.