ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, June 5, 1996 TAG: 9606050022
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: ALL-TIMESLAND GOLF
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
The 1995 high school golf season went down as the year Northside finally got it done.
Accomplishing what more talented Northside teams couldn't handle in the past, the '95 Vikings aced the course, capturing the Group AA championship.
In becoming the third Blue Ridge District school in the past six years to win the Group AA title, Northside easily swept the two biggest honors on the 1995-96 All-Timesland team.
Senior Justin Young, who led the Vikings' charge by finishing second individually in the state, is Timesland's player of the year.
Northside's Jim Wolfe, in his eighth season at the helm, is the coach of the year.
``We were on a mission this year,'' said Young, who will attend Charleston Southern on a partial golf scholarship in the fall. ``Nobody wanted to have that feeling we had [in 1994] again.''
In '94, a deeper, more talented Viking team that was favored to win the state didn't even make the trip, bowing out in the Region III tournament.
``We felt the pain and disappointment of having a team capable of winning a state championship and just losing it right there ... within a span of four hours [in the Region III tournament] it was gone.''
Despite losing stellar performers Brian Hill and Brian Agee, Northside came back with a vengeance in '95. Led by Young and juniors Jacob Jarrett and Jason Orlando, the Vikings went all the way, dominating the Blue Ridge District all season, taking the Region III crown by four shots over Martinsville and winning the state by seven strokes over Harrisonburg at Carper's Valley in Winchester.
``In some ways, this year was a little surprising,'' Wolfe said. ``But I think losing [in '94] helped this team. We weren't as strong talent-wise as in '94, but this team was much more focused.''
Young was the unquestioned leader. He romped to the Blue Ridge regular-season title, shooting even par for five rounds. At the state meet, he was tied with eventual champion Mike Gooden of R.E. Lee-Staunton after a first-round 72. He shot 77 in the second round and won a playoff with Nottoway's Cameron Yancey for second place.
``I never had any idea I'd get to be this good in golf,'' said Young, a 1-handicapper. ``I started playing seven or eight years ago because a friend of mine played. I decided to pick it up for fun, then suddenly I started taking it seriously. I had goals to get this good, but I never expected it.''
Wolfe said Young was the one team member from which he could expect a strong round.
``Justin's year was a very pleasant surprise,'' Wolfe said. ``He was always there. He kind of gave the others confidence. You just knew Justin was going to post a good score, and if the others came through, you knew you'd be all right.''
Young edged senior Tommy Lesperance of Glenvar and sophomore sensation Eric Hooke of Highland for player of the year.
Lesperance beat Hooke for the Pioneer District and Region C tournament titles before Hooke returned the favor in the Group A tournament.
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