Sunday, May. 08, 2011

Hawks lose tiebreaker, end year in regionals

Kim's score is the difference as Green Hope gets chance to defend 4-A title.

It almost looked as though the defending 4-A boys golf champions weren't going to get a chance to defend their title.

Only the top three teams from last week's Mideast Regional at Duke University Golf Club could advance to the state championships, which will be played this Monday and Tuesday at Pinehurst No. 6.

The Falcons were tied for No. 3 with Tri-Nine Conference rival Holly Springs, each recording team scores of 310 at the 18-hole event.

Team totals are comprised of the four lowest scores among six players. The first tiebreaker was comparing the scores of the No. 5 players.

Green Hope's Minchung Kim had the low round with an 81, which was enough to send the Falcons to Pinehurst. Holly Springs' fifth golfer, Nick Toma, shot 100.

Green Hope senior Austin Clevenger led his team with a two-over 74.

Leesville Road won the regional by a 13-shot margin, with Wakefield (305) taking second. Leesville was led by medalist Grayson Murray, who shot a 67.

Murray is the defending individual 4-A champ, but his focus in recent years was winning a team title.

"I think it's more fun to win as a team," said Murray, who is already verbally committed to Wake Forest. "I saw Green Hope celebrating its win, and it looked like they were having a lot more fun. That's what I want."

In addition to the team qualifiers, the low three scores from players who weren't on qualifying teams also advanced. Cary senior Boomer Boyd and Holly Springs freshman Tim Conover each carded a 72, which tied them for third overall and landed them into the state playoffs ad individual qualifiers.

Cary (319) finished sixth while Athens Drive (325) was eighth.