BUIES CREEK—Sophomore Courtney Gunter of Indian Trail Porter Ridge fired the only sub-par round of the day on Tuesday to come from behind to win the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 1A/2A/3A women’s golf individual championship at Keith Hills Country Club.
Gunter was in fourth place after the first day in the 36-hole tournament, six shots behind defending champion and leader Cydney Clanton of Concord. But Gunter shot a two-under par 70 on Tuesday and birdied the 16th, 17th and 18th holes in the process, vaulting her to a 149 total. That was three shots ahead of Clanton, who had a final-day 79.
Salisbury’s Lauren Smith finished third with a 154 total and Wilson Fike’s Amy Otteson was fourth at 159.
The team race also saw a come-from-behind effort, as Salisbury shaved 14 shots off its first day score to defend its championship successfully. Salisbury finished with a 330, two shots ahead of first-day leader Wilson Fike.
Besides Smith’s 76 on Thursday, Salisbury’s Allison Lee shot an 82, down from a 94 on Monday, to enable the Lady Hornets to win the title in the 21-team field.
The best two scores of a team counted toward the team total. A total of 77 golfers competed in the event on the 5,638-yard layout, the fourth year that a separate 1A/2A/3A championship has been held.
Wendy’s and the Carolinas Ford Dealers are the presenting sponsors of the NCHSAA sports program.
NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
2006 STATE 1A/2A/3A WOMEN’S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
Tuesday’s Results—Final Team Standings
1. Salisbury 172-158—330
2. Wilson Fike 163-169—332
3. Jamestown Ragsdale 175-165—340
4. Belmont South Point 181-168—349
5. Asheboro 181-171—352
6. North Lincoln 186-169—355
7. Lake Norman 179-178—357
8. Western Alamance 179-183—362
9. Mooresville 187-176—363
10. Southeast Guilford 178-187—365
11. Hampstead Topsail 180-189—369
12. Cameron Union Pines 184-187—371
13. Pikeville C.B. Aycock 184-191—375
14. Charlotte Catholic 191-189—380
15. Nash Central 200-186—386
16. Southwestern Randolph 198-193—391
17. Eastern Wayne 198-197—395
18. Southern Lee 194-204—398
19. Black Mountain C.D. Owen 208-195—403
20. West Henderson 203-202—405
21.Burnsville Mountain Heritage 235-210—445
Final Individual Leaders
1. Courtney Gunter, Indian Trail Porter Ridge 79-70—149
2. Cydney Clanton, Concord 73-79—152
3. Lauren Smith, Salisbury 78-76—154
4. Amy Otteson, Wilson Fike 77-82—159
5. Laura Chang, Jamestown Ragsdale 83-79—162
6. Cassie Ryals, North Lincoln 87-81—168
7. Megan Ulep, Belmont South Point 85-84—169
Jessie Poole, Alleghany 88-81–169
9. Kelly Forbis, Pikeville Charles B. Aycock 83-87—170
10. Brittany Zachrich, Hickory St. Stephens 90-81—171
11. Jessica Mitchell, Mooresville 90-82—172
12. Casey Narron, Wilson Fike 86-87—173
Emily Satterfield, Asheville T.C.Roberson 87-86—173
14. Haley Hammond, Lake Norman 86-88—174
Lori Beth Adams, Western Alamance 85-88—174
