THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 16, 1994 TAG: 9410140270
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY JOHN GORDON, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
Nansemond River' golf team, fresh off a seven-stroke victory at the Bay Rivers District championship at the Suffolk Golf Course, will battle for the Group AA Region I title at Fort Eustis' Pines Golf Course on Tuesday, beginning at 9 a.m.
Members of coach Don Horne's golf team include juniors J.C. Caperton, Paul Muse, Robert Earl, Brett Jenkins and Mike Byrum, sophomore Shaun Robertson and freshman Evan Spivey. The whole team will be back next year.
Other area golfers who will compete include Lakeland's Jose Cristia and Chris Ricks, Franklin's Kyle Cousins and Andy Harrup and Chris Dale of Smithfield.
The state tourney will be in Jonesville Oct. 24-25.
It has been a comeback season for the Warriors, who started out with a 316-348 loss to York. And the regular season championship is figured on accumulated scores.
``It's hard to make up 32 strokes,'' Horne said. ``We knew we had to hang on to second place in the district.''
York did win the regular season competition, but the Warrior coach was confident when it came tournament time. Besides, Nansemond River had been playing well the last month before the tourney.
``We beat them (York) here the next week,'' said Horne. ``I knew we could win the district tourney.''
Nansemond River grabbed a 10-stroke lead the first day, but during the first nine holes of the second round, York closed the gap to only four. However, Caperton shot par on the back side as the Warriors widened the margin to seven.
Caperton was two under par on the back nine coming up to the 18th hole, but finished with a double bogey. He qualified for the regional as an individual and placed second, making him eligible for the state.
``Things are better this year,'' he said. ``We got our stuff together.
``We wanted to give York a run for their money. They were off their game and we took advantage of it.
``We wanted to get them in the tournament, and we did.''
Part of his success, Caperton acknowledged, was that his putter was hot.
``It was real hot,'' he said. ``I dropped a few birdie putts.''
Now, he's hoping his magic wand continues its mystical powers at Ft. Eustis Tuesday.
TOURNEY WINNERS NAMED: David Thiel, Mark Babashanian, Brad Moses and Jack Miles combined talents and effort to fire a 59 to capture the recent fourth annual Maryview Foundation benefit golf tournament at the par 72 Sleepy Hole Golf Course.
Jody Dottoli, Ben Brothers, Buddy Winslow and Jerry Lassiter shot a 60 to place second in the Florida best ball event.
Two first flight teams had a 64, but the group of Bob Aston, Paul Going, Ronnie Bucher and Gary Jones won on matched cards over Ted Grell, Hadley Whitlock, Rob Ricci and Jim Paradee.
Grabbing the second flight with a 66 were Robert Burton, Bill Tomlinson, Tom Pearson and Tom Payne. In the second spot were C.U. Chung, Jim Scutero, Gregg Cross and Roberto Dajao.
Tom Camp, Tom Cash, Jim Carleo and Steve Grimes recorded a 69 to take the third flight, winning by one stroke over Charles Baines, John Lancaster, Mike Twiford and Kenny Hall.
Closest to the pin award winners were Jones (No. 4), Todd Sumser (No. 12) and Mark Little (No. 16). Jim White had the longest drive off the 11th tee, and Ben Wiggins won the putting contest.
And Peter Morrison aced the 140-yard seventh hole, using an eight-iron, according to club pro Jim Armentrout.
Proceeds from the tourney benefited the Lancaster Spiritual and Educational Center at the Bon Secours-Maryview Nursing Care Center in Suffolk. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Katie Soule, Franklin High's only female golfer, drives off the
first tee in the recent Bay Rivers District tournament at the
Suffolk Golf Course.
by CNB