[an error occurred while processing this directive]
|
On Monday afternoon at Lexington Golf Club, one of the two continued its run of excellence as the other set its sights towards next year. In the second Central Carolina Conference match of the season, Ledford ran away and hid from the rest of the league, posting a 151 team-total that was 15 strokes better than runner-up West Davidson. East, on the other hand, struggled to a 194 on a very challenging course that was made even tougher thanks to wet conditions and a swirling breeze.
“I don’t compare my teams,” LHS coach John Ralls said. “This year is a different team. We graduated three guys from last year so we have got three guys in that are working hard and doing the best they can. We’ve got capable guys. They are pretty good players and they handled the conditions pretty good. If we are going to win it again we have to be consistent. We have to play consistently good. You have to peak going into the regionals and states.”
The Panthers appear to be just as strong as the past three championship-winning clubs with a roster full of experience and talent. Senior Jeff Boyan carded Ledford’s low round of the afternoon with a even-par 36, including a pair of impressive birdies. On the par-3 third hole, Boyan stuck his iron shot onto the highly elevated green within 10 feet and would make the birdie. On the very next hole, Boyan launched a monster drive down the left-side of the fairway, giving him a perfect look at the dog-leg right pin placement. Boyan followed with a iron to within 15-feet, setting up his second straight birdie.
“It’s really wet and pretty slopey out there,” said Boyan. “It’s playing pretty tough. We are not as deep as we’ve been but we have a good top six [players]. We had seven real good players last year. I’m just going to try to keep putting well. The greens have been airified so I just have to keep my confidence up.”
Boyan finished one stroke out of medalist honors to West Davidson’s Justin Clement, who tallied a 1-under-par 35. Steve Pietsch and Curtis Brotherton helped the Ledford cause with a pair of 37s. Pietsch, a lefty, stayed out of trouble all afternoon, posting just one bogey and manipulating a text book birdie on the par-4 fourth hole. Brotherton added one of the few eagles on the day. Chad Miller and Matt Lawson each shot 41s and Jordan Stiles carded a 42.
After losing five of its top players from last year’s fifth-ranked club, East Davidson is rebuilding in 2008. The Golden Eagles are very young and simply lack course experience under pressure situations. Head coach Terry Allmon, who missed the first part of the season leading EDHS to the women’s basketball title, realizes his team is green but also sees a high upside with his young group, it will just be a matter of playing more matches.
“We have no seniors,” Allmon said. “I guess re-building is what you would call it. We have some people that can hit the ball pretty good. It just comes down to the short game and around the greens. We haven’t really had any practice time. There’s not much we can do. You can’t play defense in golf. Ledford is certainly head and shoulders above the rest. They are going to play this summer and focus on getting better.”
Sam Nelson was the low Golden Eagle with a 46, one stroke better than Zach Livingston, who found the nuances of the LGC a tad on the rough side. Livingston got a bad break on the par-4 fourth when he tried to cut his drive around the dog-leg but sliced his shot too much, resulting in a drop.
“Zach is the only one with any real experience,” said Allmon. “Other than that, none of them have even played in a match before this year.”
Staff Writer Eliot Duke can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 233, or at eliotduke@hotmail.com.