PINEHURST, N.C. – The NCHSAA Men’s Golf Championships concluded day one at four courses in the Pinehurst area. The 4A Championship is being held at Pinehurst No. 6, 3A at Foxfire’s Red Fox Course, 2A at Beacon Ridge and 1A at Whispering Pines’ Pines Course. Tee times for tomorrow's final round will be posted this evening on the Men's Golf Page at NCHSAA.org.
4A: Eight players at par or better with A.J. Beechler from Pinehurst on top while Green Hope leads team competition by a shot
A.J. Beechler attacked the par-5 second hole at Pinehurst No. 6 carding an eagle on day one of the Championship. Beechler had six birdies on the day with two bogeys on his way to a four-under, 68 and a single shot lead. Beechler clings to a single shot advantage over a group of four players at 3-under par, 69. Brandon Einstein (West Forsyth), Jack Massei (Green Hope), Jake Rutter (Mount Tabor) and Matt Sharpstene (T.C. Roberson) are all one shot out of the top spot.
Green Hope is clinging to a one-shot lead in the team competition that has all 12 qualified teams within 30 shots of the lead, one of the tightest fields in recent memory. The top three are only separated by two shots with Green Hope combining for a 5-over 293, Pinecrest carding a 6-over 294 and Myers Park sitting on 7-over 295.
3A: Chavis posts par and leads by a shot, Tuscola holds three shot lead
Parker Chavis posted a 2-under front nine at Foxfire’s Red Fox Course on day one. He birdied the par-5 fourth hole and then the par-3 eighth. The back nine was a roller coaster affair for the leader from South Rowan as he dropped four shots in three holes by a bogey on the par-4 tenth, the par-5 twelfth and then a double on the par-5 fourteenth. He regrouped on the fifteenth tee box, carding three straight birdies before closing the round with a bogey on the 405-yard par-4 eighteenth.
Tuscola holds a three shot lead over Marvin Ridge following day one as Isley McClure led Tuscola with a 2-over 74, helping the team to a 24-over 312 score for the first round. Marvin Ridge was paced by Zach Pardoll who fired a 3-over 75 as the Mavericks combined for a 27-over 315. East Rowan is still in the hunt at 29-over 317, just five shots back afert a 1-over 73 by Bryson Sprinkle that has him just one shot back in the individual event.
2A: Emmons leads at 1-over, Wilkes Central up 12 shots headed to day two
Defending individual champion Justin Emmons from Providence Grove leads the field by a shot after day one at Beacon Ridge Country Club. Emmons posted a 1-over 73. Emmons was steady all day with birdies on a pair of par fives, the 475-yard seventh and 542-yard thirteenth. He limited damage to just three bogeys on the day, on on the par-4 second hole before bogeys on a pair of par threes.
Wilkes Central, last year’s champion, has a solid 12-shot lead after day one. Wilkes Central got solid performances from a good core group led by Garrett Dawson who posted a 4-over 76 on the day. Zach Caudill (+8), Chandler Metz (+5) and Quinton Metz (+6) were all in single-digits over par, helping the team post a great score. Washington sits in the second spot at 35-over par, 323. The Pam Pack got a pair of 5-over 77’s from Riley VanStaalduinen and Tony Lovenberg to grab second position.
1A: Union Academy’s Smith leads by a shot with Lincoln Charter up 12 on CSD
Union Academy’s Nick Smith carded a 1-over 73 on the opening day at Whispering Pines’ Pines Course. Smith cruised for a good portion of the day with a pair of birdies on his round. He sunk a birdie putt on the par-4 third hole and the par-4 thirteenth. His missteps came on a pair of par-5’s as he bogeyed the 502-yard seventh hole and the 507-yard fifteenth. He also bogeyed the 368-yard par-4 ninth.
Lincoln Charter saw four players card rounds in the single-digits over par as William Crook and Justin Morgan led the way posting a pair of 2-over 74’s. The team combined for a 17-over 305 on the first round. Harrison Hall went 6-over 78 while teammate Dylan Land carded a 7-over 79. Community School of Davidson trails by 12 shots at 29-over 317. The Spartans were led by Patten Williams and Carter Crook who both fired 4-over rounds of 76.
