THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 3, 1995 TAG: 9509010208
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: By JAMI FRANKENBERRY, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Long : 105 lines
AFTER JUST three golf matches, two Bay Rivers District teams have distanced themselves from the rest of the pack.
Before this week's matches, Nansemond River held a six-stroke lead in the standings over York. Lakeland, the third-place team, was 67 behind the Falcons.
``It looks like it's going to be between us and (York) the rest of the way,'' said Nansemond River coach Don Horne. ``Nobody else is going to catch us.''
Said Lakeland coach Daniel Murphy: ``It's definitely going to be a two-man race the rest of the way.''
All is not lost for the rest of the district. The top three teams and top six individuals go to the regional tournament. The top team at the end of the regular season receives an automatic invitation, while the other teams play a tournament with the top two going to the regional.
``(After three matches) four strokes separated three teams (Franklin, Smithfield and Poquoson), so it's going to be really tight,'' said Smithfield coach Ron Reese. ``It's going to be a dogfight.''
Here's how the area teams shape up:
NANSEMOND RIVER
Coach: Don Horne
Last year's finish: Second in Bay Rivers; won district tournament
Returning starters: J.C. Caperton, Sr.; Paul Muse, Sr.; Brett Jenkins, Sr.; Robert Earl, Sr.; Michael Byrum, Jr.; Shaun Robertson, So.; Evan Spivey, So.
Top newcomers: None.
Outlook: With all his golfers returning from last year, Horne calls the Warriors ``the best team I have ever coached.'' Caperton was the medalist of last year's district tournament and joined Muse in being named to the all-tournament team. Jenkins and Robertson qualified for the state tournament.
The Warriors will be in great shape if they continue to play like they did at Smithfield Downs last week. The Warriors shattered a school record with a 281. The previous mark was 321. Muse broke the Warriors' individual record of 75 with a two-under 69 at Smithfield.
LAKELAND
Coach: Daniel Murphy
Last year's finish: Third in Bay Rivers
Returning starters: Chris Ricks, Sr.; Brett Waldo, Sr.; Will Parker, Sr.; Patrick Owens, Sr.
Top newcomers: Scott White, So.; Mike Schutrump, Jr.; Chetan Tiwari, Jr.
Outlook: Murphy expects the Cavaliers, who were two strokes from making last year's state tournament, to ``head the rest of the pack'' behind Nansemond River and York. The first-year coach hopes Owens returns this week after missing the first three matches with a leg injury. That should give Lakeland a solid top four golfers and a good shot at making regionals.
SOUTHAMPTON
Coach: Bob Wolfe
Last year's finish: Seventh in Bay Rivers
Returning starters: Jim Modlin, Jr.; John Darden, Jr.; Jay Ballard, So.
Top newcomer: Chad Nadeau, Fr.
Outlook: Things aren't expected to get better anytime soon for the Indians, who are without a senior. ``We're taking on some new kids and trying to rebuild,'' Wolfe said. ``We're getting more consistent and our scores are dropping, so I hope we have some individuals that will develop into good players.'' Wolfe said Nadeau and Ballard have the potential to become solid golfers by the time they are seniors.
SMITHFIELD
Coach: Ron Reese
Last year's finish: Fourth in Bay Rivers
Returning starters: Christopher Dale, Sr.; Jason Riley, Sr.; Thomas Routten, Sr.; Stephen King, Jr.; Brian Brisson, So.; Travis Pierce, So.
Top newcomers: None
Outlook: The Packers return an experienced squad, led by Dale, who went to the regional tournament last season. ``The thing he does best is recover,'' Reese said. ``He can hit a tee shot bad and still make par on the hole.'' Dale will need help. After finishing third in the first district match, Smithfield slipped to fifth over the next two. ``We're the first Smithfield team to (finish third) in a match,'' Reese said. ``We didn't do as well as we should have after that, though.''
FRANKLIN
Coach: Tom Ritter
Last year's finish: Fifth in Bay Rivers
Returning starters: Kyle Cousins, Jr.; Travis Fowler, Sr.; Katie Soule, Sr.; Brandon Cobb, So.; Tony Pulley, So.; Tre Blankenship, So.; Scott Belcher, Jr.
Top newcomers: Ryan Cousins, Fr.
Outlook: The Broncos lost only one player from last year's team, but those returning are still young. Kyle Cousins, the team's captain, went to the state tournament last year and is a good building block. ``(The state tournament) definitely helped Kyle, and it was good experience for him,'' Ritter said. ``Everybody looks to him for tips and guidance and he's more than willing to help.'' Ritter said this would be an important year for the Broncos and the players know it. ``They're upbeat about this year,'' he said. ``We've got some sophomores and we'll keep improving if they keep they're composure.'' ILLUSTRATION: HIGH SCHOOL GOLF
Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Nansemond River's Paul Muse broke the Warriors' individual record of
75 with a two-under 69 at Smithfield.
Left to right, Will Parker, Chris Ricks and Brett Waldo are
returning starters for Lakeland.
by CNB