GUNTER FIRES BRILLIANT 70 TO CLINCH THIRD STRAIGHT INDIVIDUAL CROWN IN NCHSAA 1A/2A/3A WOMEN’S GOLF
FOXFIRE VILLAGE—Defending individual champion Courtney Gunter of Indian Trail Porter Ridge made it three state titles in a row in convincing fashion on Tuesday in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s state 1A/2A/3A women’s golf championships at the Foxfire Resort and Golf Club.
Gunter, a senior who had won the last two individual championships in this classification, shot a brilliant two-under par 70 in blustery, chilly conditions on the West Course at Foxfire to win the individual crown by a whopping 10 shots.
Gunter was tied for first with Lake Norman senior Haley Hammond after Monday’s opening round. But Hammond shot an 81on the second day to fall out of contention for the crown, still finishing second at 156. Gunter’s 70 on Tuesday was the only sub-par round of the entire tournament.
Junior Laura Chang of Ragsdale and West Henderson sophomore Kayla Sciupider each carded 157 to finish tied for third, 11 shots back.
Blair Lamb of East Henderson is the only other golfer to win three individual state crowns in this classification, winning in 2002-04. Ashley Leonard of Northern Nash won or shared three crowns when the competition was open in 1997-98, including one in the spring of ’97 and then again in the fall when women’s golf moved into that season.
Defending team champion Cameron Union Pines, which had a 16-shot lead in the team standings over Ragsdale after the first day, held on to clinch the title by 19 shots over Ragsdale with a score of 517. Western Alamance moved up into third place at 544 with Charlotte Catholic and Southern Lee tied for fourth at 549.
The best three scores of a team counted toward the team totals, and a total of 12 teams and 78 golfers competed in the event, the sixth year that a separate 1A/2A/3A championship has been held.
Wendy’s is the presenting sponsor of the NCHSAA sports program.
NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
2008 STATE 1A/2A/3A WOMEN’S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
Foxfire Resort and Golf Club
Tuesday’s Results—Final Team Standings
1. Cameron Union Pines 254-263—517
2. Jamestown Ragsdale 270-266—536
3. Western Alamance 276-268—544
4. Charlotte Catholic 273-276—549
Southern Lee 274-275—549
6. Salisbury 277-273—550
7. Black Mountain Charles D. Owen276-281—557
8. Pittsboro Northwood 291-270—561
9. Lake Norman 274-293—567
10. Asheville T.C. Roberson 287-284—571
11. Hampstead Topsail 295-280—575
12. Pfafftown Ronald Reagan 294-299—593
Tuesday’s Results – Final Individual Leaders
1. Courtney Gunter, Indian Trail Porter Ridge 76-70—146
2. Haley Hammond, Lake Norman 76-80—156
3. Kayla Sciupider, West Henderson 79-78—157
Laura Chang, Jamestown Ragsdale 80-77—157
5. Lori Beth Adams, Western Alamance 80-79—159
6. Karli Heimbecker, Southern Lee 81-81—162
7. Coni Fuenzalida, Black Mountain C.D. Owen 81-83—164
Jessica Neese, Southeast Guilford 82-82—164
9. Allison Lee, Salisbury 82-84—166
Mattie Tobey, East Lincoln 83-83—166
Mallory Warrick, Wilson Fike 86-80—166
12. Andrea Robbins, Providence Grove 87-81—168
13. Amanda D’Ostropoh, Cameron Union Pines 84-85—169
14. Jennifer Crow, Havelock 85-85—170
15. Kathryn Rand, Hampstead Topsail 85-86—171
