From staff reports

KANNAPOLIS — The 54th annual North Carolina Open got under way on Tuesday at The Club at Irish Creek, with 152 of the top golfers from North and South Carolina.

Three players — Patrick Cover of Cornelius, Peter Skirpstas of Jacksonville and Matt Bick of Pinehurst — fired 4-under par 66s, to lead after the first round. The three-round event concludes on Thursday.

The top local golfer in the first round was Michael Childress, of Salisbury. Childress, a Cannon School senior and University of Richmond signee, is tied for 21st, following an even-par 70.

One of the eight players tied with Childress is Concord’s Walker Cress, who just finished his freshman year at James Madison.

Concord’s Stephen Carroll had a 2-over 72 (44th) and Lansdon Robbins of Davidson, a teammate of Childress’ at Cannon, shot a 73 (60th).

Davis Richards, of South Rowan and N.C. State, is tied for 83rd place after a 75 on Tuesday. Parker Chavis, another South Rowan grad and currently at Cape Fear Community College, also shot a 75.

Logan Shuping, a former East Rowan standout and a sophomore at East Carolina, carded a 77 (tied for 106th place).

Andrew Morgan, of China Grove, also a South Rowan grad, shot an 81.

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Grace Yatawara (Salisbury, ECU) shot 1-under 71 on Tuesday and tied for 11th in the Carolinas Women’s Amateur at Green Valley in Greenville, S.C.

Yatawara shot 75 and 77 the first two rounds.

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The Corbin Hills Women’s Golf Association played their annual Grace Rodgers Spring Handicap Tournament on Tuesday.

The winner with the overall low net score was Faye Cline.

Overall low gross was won by Susan Morris.

In the First Flight, low net went to Susan Houston. Low net in the Second Flight went to Cathy Fleming.

In the Third Flight, low net went to Monica Green and second low net went to Carolynn Ries.

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Sixty-two GARS members played a Captains Choice at Corbin Hills.

The first-place team with a minus-10 was Winsten Mahaffey, Lynn Shook, Randy Edwards, and Scott Hay.

The second-place team with a minus-9 was  Allen Hammill, Tom Talbert, Doug Lingleand Tony Labarbera.

Two teams tied for third place with a minus-8. The team of Lou Manning, Ralph Brown, Ernest Wagner and Bobby Clark bested the team of John Goodman, Ted Weant, Bill Hathcock, and Larry Perrell in a scorecard playoff.

Closest to the pin on No. 2  was won by Frank Rowell. Longest putt on No. 9 was made by Larry Petrea.

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Grady B. McCanless Four-Ball results:

Championship Flight

K. Lentz /B. Wray def. L. Shuping / B. Sprinkle 3 & 2

Consolation:  ​D. Lipe/D. Davis def. Mi. Swaringen/B. Swaringen 2 & 1

First Flight

J. Barnette / J. Lefler def. J. Childress/M. Childress 4 & 3

Consolation: ​A. Lombard/J. Bernhardt def. R. Morrison / J. Keaver 3 & 2

Second Flight

J. Shepherd / F. Shepherd def. C. Watson/J. Barnette 2-up

Consolation:​B. Howell/K. Burgess def. R. Adams/R. Honeycutt 3 & 1

Third Flight

B. Perry/C. Lineberry def. B. Carroll/C. Barnhardt 6 & 5

Consolation:​K. Mason/M. Seaford def. D. Snyder /A. Weant 2 & 1

Fourth Flight

J. Wright /C. Valley def. J. Overcash /T. Collins 5 & 4

Consolation:​D. McCombs/D. Haga  def. M. Butcher/C. Stevens 1-up (21 holes)

Fifth Flight

B. Mulkey /Te. Mulkey def. J. Bickford/J. Myers 3 & 2

Consolation:​J. Patterson/C. Hill def. P. Hampton/P. Hubbard,   1-up

Sixth Flight

A. Horton/B. Riley def. B. Medinger/R. Hampton 4 & 3

Consolation:   G. Creeger/J. Shirley def. T. Holmes/R. Weber 7 & 5

Wood bat leagues

Holden Lanier (North Rowan) hit a three-run homer for the High Point Locos and collected three hits in a 12-11 loss to the Statesville Owls.

East Rowan BB camp

  East Rowan baseball camp dates are June 11-15.

Times are 9-2 Monday through Thursday and 9-noon on Friday.

Pay the first day of the camp. Cost is $125.

  Lunch will be provided on final day. Bring own lunch the other days.

Each camper receives a T-shirt. Competition on Friday with medals to the winner.

Email Coach Hightower at hightobr@rss.k12.nc.us.

Email name, age, shirt size and emergency phone number.

Piedmont BB camp

  Dates for the 30th annual Piedmont Baseball Camp for pitchers and catchers are July 10-11 from 8:30-noon at North Davidson High.

Camp is for ages 6-18. Coast of the two-day camp is $70.

Instructors include former Davidson head coach Dick Cooke and Wingate pitching coach Dusty White.

Contact Mike Lawson at mikelawson488@gmail.com or call  336-239-0139.

Parks and Rec

The Salisbury Parks and Recreation Department, J.F. Hurley YMCA and Fieldhouse are  accepting registration for its  coed summer youth basketball league ages 5-16.

Cost is $20 per participant.  Register at Hall Gym or J.F. Hurley YMCA or online at www.salisburync.gov/play.

Call 704-638-5289 or 704-636-0111.

Prep basketball

Carson point guard Jailen Williams, a first team all-county player, is signing with Claflin on Thursday.

MLB draft

Lake Norman High pitcher Justin Jarvis was a fifth-round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Jarvis pitched a perfect game against East Rowan early this season.

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Carson-Newman third baseman Brett Langhorne was selected in the 10th round, 292nd overall, on  Tuesday by the Atlanta Braves.

Youth track

Rowan Express competed in the the Ken Roberts Track and Field Challenge at Southeast Guilford High.

Braxton Ellis

6-under boys

Turbo Javelin, 6th, 17-7

Richard Payne

6 -under boys

Turbo Javelin, 8th, 17-0

Bralin Ellis

7-8 boys

Shot put, 2nd, 23-1

Brenden Ellis

9-10 boys

Shot put, 5th, 18-6

Jamasia Jackson

11-12 girls

Discus, 2nd, 49-8

Breasia Ellis

15-16 girls

Discus, 4th, 66-8

Shot put, 7th,  25-4

Christian Morgan

15-16 boys

110 high hurdles,  2nd 16.28

Jamesia Jackson

17-18 girls

Shot put, 2nd, 28-8

Discus, 2nd , 66-0

Intimidators

Kannapolis manager  Justin Jirschele will be one of the North coaches for the South Atlantic League All-Star Game.

Kannapolis hurlers Jake Elliot and Tyler Johnson were chosen to play in the game, along with second baseman Tate Blackman, shortstop Laz Rivera and outfielders Luis Gonzalez and Craig Dedelow.

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The  Intimidators announced that Luis Robert, Major League Baseball’s 25th overall prospect,  will be joining Kannapolis after being sidelined for three months with a Spring Training thumb injury.

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  HICKORY— Sam Huff had a walk-off, two-run double with one out in the ninth inning, as the Hickory Crawdads topped the Kannapolis Intimidators 11-10 on Tuesday to finish a doubleheader sweep.

The Intimidators took a 10-9 lead in the top of the ninth when Luis Curbelo hit a two-run double as part of a four-run inning.

Several Intimidators chipped in at the plate, as five players collected at least two hits. Justin Yurchak singled twice, scoring three runs and driving home a couple.

Despite the loss, Kannapolis is 6-2 against Hickory this season.