Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 18, 1994 TAG: 9408190060
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: CURRENT EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Monday's match between Giles and Floyd County was more than just the opener to the high school golf season. It was the first sporting competition among schools in the newly created Three Rivers District.
"We made history, I guess," said Bob Wilburn, the Giles golf coach.
The Three Rivers was formed last fall, when Radford announced it would be moving in the Group A classification from Group AA. Instead of making Radford the 11th member of an overloaded Mountain Empire District, district officials voted to split that district into two leagues.
Former MED members Giles, Floyd County, Auburn and Shawsville joined Radford in forming Three Rivers. Narrows, Grayson County, Galax, Fort Chiswell, Bland and Rocky Gap stayed in the Mountain Empire District.
GILES is clearly the team to beat in the Three Rivers. In fact, there may not be anyone who can finish close.
"They're the team to beat," said Larry Mannon, Radford's coach. "There's no doubt in anybody's mind about that. All of us [other coaches in the district] feel the same way. If you asked us, we'd all say it will be no contest at all."
The Spartans return four of their top five golfers from a team that played in the Group A state tournament in 1993, including Region C champion Andrew Wagner. Giles blistered Floyd County by 56 strokes in that historic match at Castle Rock.
The Spartans have an outstanding top four in Wagner, David McCall, Jerad French and Eddie O'Dell. In fact, Wagner shot the highest score of the four in the season's first match, but Giles still won handily. McCall posted a 165 in last year's state tournament to lead the Spartans, and he, like Wagner, has potential to win an individual title or two.
RADFORD and FLOYD COUNTY will fight each other for second place behind the Spartans. Radford, which had been one of the top programs in the New River District before slipping the last couple of years, has two fine players in senior Brian Boggess and junior Eric Merkt, both of whom qualified for the Region IV tournament last year. Senior Brian Cullatty also will be a consistently low scorer for the Bobcats.
A big change has taken place at Floyd County, where Skip Bishop has taken over for the notable Dave Thompson as head coach. During Thompson's 13-year tenure, the Buffaloes boasted one of the best golf programs in Group A and won a state championship in 1986.
Bishop, Floyd County's veteran baseball coach and a former Timesland coach of the year in basketball, takes over a team that has a good mix of seniors and underclassmen. Junior Justin Fontaine, and seniors Leonard Rorrer and Kevin Blevins will consistently shoot the lowest scores for the Buffaloes. Underclassmen like junior Jonathan Pratt and sophomores Chad King and Adam Harris will vie for the fourth spot.
SHAWSVILLE could make a move on Radford and Floyd County if seniors Andy Smith and Keith Armour repeat the success they experienced last year. Smith played in the Region C tournament last year and has a good shot at a state berth this year. Sophomores Larry Smith and Arlis Conner round out the top four for coach Billy Wells.
In the New River District, defending champion CHRISTIANSBURG may be the team to beat, although the Blue Demons will be pushed by Blacksburg. Christiansburg returns its two best players - 1993 district champ Drew Robinson and Brian Wallace. If first-year coach Bobby Ashburn can get low scores from the Nos. 3 and 4 spots, the Blue Demons could repeat.
Christiansburg will be stiffly challenged by BLACKSBURG, which also returns its top two players, Kurt Williams and Wes Martin. Craig Zamer and Andy Robinson will probably round out the top four for head coach Mike Delpercio.
The future looks good at PULASKI COUNTY, where Matt Gardner is the lone senior on a young, deep squad. Gardner advanced to the Group AAA state tournament two years ago and was a Northwest Region participant last year. Junior Chris Davis and sophomore Chuck Shomo will be in the top four on a consistent basis, and the fourth spot will go to any of a number of young players, according to Cougar coach Butch White. He expects his team to challenge the leaders in the Roanoke Valley District.
by CNB