FOXFIRE VILLAGE — Raleigh Broughton’s Julie Saleeby held on to her first-round lead and took medalist honors in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state women’s 4-A golf championships at Fox Fire Resort and Golf Club on Tuesday.
Saleeby had an even-par 72 on the opening day Monday, good for a three-shot advantage, and kept the field at bay with a 74 in the final to win the title by three shots. Jennifer O’Connor of Raleigh Leesville Road was the runner-up with a 149, followed by Northwest Guilford’s Erica Creed and Gastonia Ashbrook’s Courtney Taylor 12 shots off the pace at 158 each.
Defending champion Leesville Road successfully held on to its team crown and blew the field away by a 27-stroke margin. Leesville recorded a 312 to 339 for second-place Greensboro Page, with Charlotte Myers Park in third at 340.
It was the largest margin of victory in women’s golf since the NCHSAA adopted its current format in 1997.
The best two scores of a four-person team count toward the team totals. There were 25 teams competing for the team title on the East Course at Fox Fire, laid out at 5,634 yards for this championship.
A total of 74 golfers competed in the 25th annual tournament. Wendy’s Restaurants and the Carolinas Ford Dealers are the presenting sponsors of the NCHSAA sports program.
NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
2005 WOMEN’S STATE GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS—CLASS 4-A
Fox Fire Resort and Golf Club
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1. Raleigh Leesville Road 158-154—312
2. Greensboro Page 168-171—339
3. Charlotte Myers Park 172-168—340
4. Clayton 167-174—341
Southern Pines Pinecrest 172-169—341
Northwest Guilford 172-169—341
7. Raleigh Wakefield 174-174—348
8. Wilmington Ashley 174-178—352
9. Wilmington New Hanover 178-175—353
10. Gastonia Ashbrook 172-184—356
11. Wake Forest-Rolesville 186-189—375
12. Raleigh Broughton 187-189—376
13. New Bern 177-200—377
14. Morganton Freedom 190-181—381
15. Scotland 193-189—382
16. Apex 192-193—385
17. Raleigh Millbrook 190-197—387
Morrisville Green Hope 193-194—387
19. Chapel Hill 200-208—408
20. North Mecklenburg 201-209—410
21. Greenville Rose 208-202—410
22. Charlotte Providence 215-209—424
23. Asheville A.C. Reynolds 222-206—428
24. Watauga 223-213—436
25. West Forsyth 219-225—444
FINAL INDIVIDUAL LEADERS (74 golfers total)
1. Julie Saleeby, Raleigh Broughton 72-74—146
2. Jennifer O’Connor, Raleigh Leesville Road 75-74—149
3. Courtney Taylor, Gastonia Ashbrook 75-83—158
Erica Creed, Northwest Guilford 81-77—158
5. Kathleen Strandberg, Greensboro Page 80-79—159
Kristen Billings, Wilmington Ashley 81-78—159
7. Brook Goodwin, Fuquay-Varina 78-82—160
Sharlene Galem, Clayton 82-78—160
9. Jordan Ridge, Pinecrest 83-78—161
10. Kim Hamm, Raleigh Leesville Road 83-80—163
Michelle Ahn, Chapel Hill 80-83—163
Stephanie Wagstaff, A.C. Reynolds 82-81—163
13. Colleen Estes, Morrisville Green Hope 83-82—165
14. Courtney McKim, Raleigh Wakefield 86-80—166
15. Virginia Mayer, Charlotte Myers Park 83-85—168
Ashley Denton, Knightdale 84-84—168