BUIES CREEK— Salisbury’s Will Collins fired a brilliant four-under 68 in Tuesday’s final round to capture the individual crown in the 21st annual North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 2-A men’s golf championships at Keith Hills Country Club.
Collins had a 36-hole total of 143 after a first-day 75 and vaulted into the top spot over Ryan Lavelle of Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons, one of the co-leaders after the first round. Lavelle finished with a 145 and Ledford’s Nick Goins was in third place, three shots off the pace.
The other first day leader, Kenny Bethea of North Lincoln, wound up in fourth place at 148.
Ledford successfully defended its 2-A team title with a pair of sub-300 rounds, tallying a 596 to take the championship by 13 shots over Cardinal Gibbons. Ledford placed three golfers in the top 11, including Goins, Jeff Boyan (tied for ninth) and Paxton Davis (tied for 11th).
Salisbury was third at 615, followed by West Henderson (618) and East Davidson (619).
Prior to 1986, all NCHSAA schools competed for a single title in an open tournament. Play went to three classifications in 1986 and then to four classes beginning with the 1998 tournaments.
Wendy’s and the Carolinas Ford Dealers are the presenting sponsors of the NCHSAA sports program, with a total of 84 golfers competing in the two-day tournament.
NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
21st ANNUAL STATE 2-A MEN’S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
Keith Hills Country Club, Buies Creek
Par 72, 6,500 yards
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1. Ledford 299-297–596
2. Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons 302-307–609
3. Salisbury 315-300–615
4. West Henderson 304-314–618
5. East Davidson 309-310–619
6. East Bend Forbush 316-310–626
7. Mayodan Dalton McMichael 320-316–636
8. South Brunswick 318-319–637
9. Reidsville 316-324–640
10. North Surry 325-321–646
11. Richlands 321-336–657
12. East Duplin 323-336–659
FINAL INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
1. Will Collins, Salisbury 75-68—143
2. Ryan Lavelle, Cardinal Gibbons 71-74—145
3. Nick Goins, Ledford 75-71—146
4. Kenny Bethea, North Lincoln 71-77—148
5. Mark Garrison, West Henderson 77-72—149
Lance Wheeler, Claremont Bunker Hill 76-73—149
7. Brad Lake, Eastern Guilford 75-75—150
Shawn Matthews, East Bend Forbush 73-77—150
Jeff Boyan, Ledford 76-74—150
Johnny Kyger, Salisbury 77-73—150
11. Bradley Cline, East Davidson 77-74—151
Paxton Davis, Ledford 76-75–151
